Mahershala Ali To Play Taraji P. Henson’s Love Interest In ‘Hidden Figures’Posted by Wilson Morales
March 16, 2016
Source: Deadline
According to Deadline, House of Cards’ Mahershala Ali and Glen Powell have been added to the Fox 2000 mathematician film “Hidden Figures.”
The duo join Henson, Octavia Spencer, singer Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, and Kirsten Durst.
Ted Melfi will direct the film as well as a producer along with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping through Chernin Entertainment; and Donna Gigliotti of Levantine Films.
Based on Margot Lee Shetterly book “Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race,” the film will focus on centers on Katherine Johnson (Henson), a brilliant African-American mathematician who, along with her colleagues Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) and Dorothy Vaughan (Spencer), served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history — the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and his safe return. The three women crossed all gender, race and professional lines while embarking on the mission.
Powell will play astronaut John Glenn, who was on the Friendship 7 mission in 1962 and became the first American to orbit the Earth. He recently wrapped production on Fernando Coimbra’s Sand Castle and can next be seen in Richard Linklater’s Dazed And Confused follow-up which Everybody Wants Some!
Ali, who is currently reprising his role as lobbyist Remy Danton on the fourth season of Netflix’s House of Cards, is slated to play the love interest of Henson. The Oakland, CA is also on stage in New York in the Off-Broadway production of Smart People, opposite Creed’s Tessa Thompson and The Affair’s Joshua Jackson. He will be seen in Gary Ross’s Free State Of Jones for STX, followed by a regular role on Marvel’s Luke Cage for Netflix.
“Hidden Figures” is set to hit theaters on January 13, 2017.
