Oscar nominee Aunjanue L. Ellis (King Richard) will play Nickel The Boys , based on Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name, directed by Ramel Rose.
Nickel Boys Set in Jim Crow-era Florida, it focuses on two boys who were unfairly sentenced A brutal reform school. MGM’s Orion Pictures, Plan B Entertainment and Anonymous Content will produce the film adaptation, which will also feature Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater and Fred Hechinger.
Louverture Films’ Oscar nominee Jocelyn Barnes, who will write the screenplay for the film alongside Ross, will also serve as a producer, while Whitehead will serve as executive Producer.
“It’s been an honor to work with such a talented person and trust such an incredible written story with historical roots. I’ve always been grateful to the people driving this project impressed with the enthusiasm and creativity,” director Ross said in a statement.
Ellis’ Oscar-nominated mother of Serena and Venus Williams, Oracene Price, in last year’s biopic Richard King . Her upcoming projects include new film versions of The Color Purple, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat and The Deliverance. Ellis won two Emmys for her role as Sharone Salaam in When they See Us and for her role in Lovecraft Country Award Nominee.
Herisse as Yusef Salaam in Emmy Nomination When they See Us, with Chicago Med, Big Time Rush and About a Boy. Wilson’s previous work includes Gavin O’Connor’s The Way Back and Murmur from Director Mark Polish.
Linklater, known as an actor, writer and director, most recently on the Apple TV+ limited series Manhunt, Angelyne and Watergate AnthologyGaslit. Hechinger recently completed Hell of a Summer, and will also appear in the upcoming Pale Blue Eyes and Butcher’s Crossing.
Ross Directed Documentary Hale County This Morning Tonight nominated for Oscar and Emmy , and won the Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Whitehead’s Nickel Boys won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, which he won at After the second Pulitzer Prize for Underground Railroad , Civil War-era fiction.
Nickel Boys adaptation marks Plan B Entertainment’s partnership with Whitehead following limited series adaptation The second collaboration of Amazon Prime Video’s Underground Railroad .
Ellis is represented by UTA and TMT Entertainment Group. Herrise is represented by Clear Talent Group and Stagecoach Entertainment. Wilson is represented by A3 Artists Agency and Seven Summits Pictures & Management.
Linklaters was replaced by CAA and Untitled Entertainment. Hechinger is represented by A3 Artists Agency and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
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