Since penning the screenplay for the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave, John Ridley (Jimi: All Is by My Side) has become an important and influential voice in black cinema, highlighting issues of race in not only the aforementioned films, but also in his television series American Crime. Now, the writer/director will further explore race in America with an upcoming film on 1992’s L.A. riots.
Taking place after the acquittal of four LAPD officers tried for the brutal beating of Rodney King, the film is said to highlight several important figures involved in the resulting aftermath of the trial, as well as the events that lead towards it. The project will hold significant relevance to many people today, with racial tensions still brewing from recent incidents in Ferguson and Baltimore that parallel that of 1992’s incident in L.A. John Ridley also wrote the script for the film, and it will be his first directorial effort since 2013’s well received Jimi: All Is by My Side.
The project previously had Justin Lin (Fast & Furious 6) attached as the director and will be produced through Broad Green Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. Brian Grazer (Rush), who is producing, was enthusiastic about the film’s potential and its director, stating:
“We have barely seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of John Ridley‘s talent. I am confident that he will capture the magnitude of the events that unfolded and the issues that led up to them. He will show the world why the riots cannot and should not be forgotten.”
The film is set to begin shooting in spring of next year.
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