Forest Whitaker has joined Codeblack Films’ Angela Davis biopic as an executive producer, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The actor boards the project after Lionsgate’s Codeblack acquired the movie rights last year to Angela Davis: An Autobiography, centering on the life and legacy of the prominent civil rights activist. Also joining is Nina Yang Bongiovi, with whom Whitaker produced Fruitvale Station and Dope.
Sidra Smith, who produced the 2012 doc Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, and Codeblack Enterprises CEO Jeff Clanagan also are producing the film. Davis will serve as an executive producer with her niece, playwright Eisa Davis.
Whitaker’s upcoming films include Ryan Coogler’s Marvel flick Black Panther, Roland Joffe’s Desmond Tutu drama The Forgiven and Brad Furman’s Tupac/Biggie murder movie LAbyrinth. He is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
