American actor Jason Mitchell, best known for his role as rapper Eazy-E in 2015’s Straight Outta Compton, has joined the cast of A24’S Zola. The film is adapted from a Rolling Stone article by David Kushner titled Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted, chronicling an insane 2-day trip to Florida as described through 148 tweets from Aziah “Zola” Wells’ Twitter account.
The story involves Zola, a sex worker named Jessica, Jessica’s boyfriend Jarrett, and Jessica’s Nigerian pimp ‘Z.’ The story, detailed in a storm of tweets in 2015, was unlike anything the internet had seen before, quickly going viral and eventually gaining the attention of American entertainment company A24, who decided to tell the tale on the big screen. A24 has become known for producing indie films with odd and unique storytelling methods, making it the perfect home for such an absurd tale. Recent A24 success stories include Lady Bird, Moonlight, Eighth Grade, Hereditary, The Witch, The Lobster, and Ex Machina.
Mitchell’s role in the film in the film is currently unknown, but he will star alongside Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, Colman Domingo, and Taylour Paige in the cinematic retelling. The film is being directed by American writer and director Janicza Bravo, and production is set to begin this fall.