South African director Darrell Roodt has signed to helm the indie biopic “Robeson” with shooting set for this summer and “Homeland” star David Harewood in the title role.
New Zealand-American banner Four Stars International is producing and Greg Carter of Nexus Films is co-producing.
Variety reported Dec. 4 that Harewood had been attached to play singer and actor Paul Robeson, whose political activism brought him to the attention of Sen. Joseph McCarthy, leading to the revocation of his passport for eight years despite his contributions as an entertainer to the Allied forces during WWII.
Louis Gossett Jr. will portray W.E.B. Dubois.
Roodt’s directing credits include “Sarafina” and “Cry the Beloved Country.”
Four Stars is also developing “Sky Warriors,” “Havana Rendezvous” about Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams in Cuba; and “A Grand Affair,” based on the wartime relationship between Dwight D. Eisenhower and his driver/assistant Kay Summersby.
