Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins‘ (Moonlight) next project seems to be gaining momentum now that the film is in the process of casting its stars. Stephen James, one of the stars of the television series Shots Fired, is in talks to play one of the leads in Jenkins’ romantic adaptation If Beale Street Could Talk, Variety reports.

Based on the James Baldwin novel, the film will follow the recently engaged Tish who fights to prove the innocence of her accused fiancé while carrying their unborn child. An actress has not yet been set for Tish, however, Jenkins and financier Annapurna Pictures have been hard at work in the past months to get both castings right. James will potentially play her wrongfully accused beau, Fonny.

The Baldwin Estate has been working side by side with Jenkins to get the movie made. It has been one of his passion projects after Moonlight, as he adapted both scripts during an inspired summer in 2013. The film will begin shooting this fall.

James currently stars in the television series Shots Fired and can also be seen in Selma and as Jesse Owens in Race.