Russell Hornsby, Lamar Johnson Join Amandla Stenberg In George Tillman Jr.’s ‘The Hate U Give’Posted by Wilson Morales
August 2, 2017
Source: THR
The Hollywood Reporter is stating that Russell Hornsby and Lamar Johnson have been cast in The Hate U Give, the Fox 2000 project that George Tillman Jr. will direct.
The duo join actress Amandla Stenberg in the adaptation of Angela Thomas’ debut YA novel, which was inspired by Black Lives Matter.
Thomas’ book follows a 16-year-old girl named Starr who grew up in a poverty-stricken slum, but now attends a suburban prep school. After she witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend, she’s torn between her two very different worlds as she tries to speak her truth.
Hornsby will play a lead role as Starr’s father, while Johnson will play Seven, Starr’s older brother.
The book was published Feb. 28 by Balzer + Bray and spent more than 13 weeks as No. 1 on the New York Times young adult best-seller list.
Hornsby was most recently seen in Denzel Washington’s Fences and has a series-regular gig on the upcoming Netflix drama series Seven Seconds opposite Regina King. He also starred on the series Lincoln Heights on ABC Family, In Treatment on HBO and Grimm on NBC.
Johnson was one of the stars of the BAFTA Award-winning Canadian show The Next Step, and he will soon be seen in the crime drama Kings with Halle Berry and Daniel Craig. He also will star in Fox’s upcoming superhero ensemble film X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
