Stephan James Cast Opposite Sanaa Lathan In Fox’s Shots FiredPosted by Wilson Morales
March 1, 2016
Stephan James, who’s currently on the big screen playing famed Olympian Jesse Owens in ‘Race,’ has been cast in a lead role in Shots Fired, a dramatic new event series from Gina Prince-Bythewood (Beyond the Lights, The Secret Life of Bees, Love & Basketball) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (Beyond the Lights, Notorious).
The series will examines the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small town in Tennessee.
Shots Fired stars Sanaa Lathan as an expert investigator who digs into the cases, alongside a special prosecutor (James) sent to the town by the Department of Justice. The pair must navigate the media attention, public debate and the social unrest that comes with such volatile cases, as they seek justice before the divided town erupts. The event series is scheduled to debut in 2016.
Also cast in the series is DeWanda Wise, who will play Shameeka Campbell, who lives in “the houses,” one of the worst parts of town. She opens up to the prosecutors about her son being killed by police and how they threatened to arrest her if she talked.
Prior to Race, James was best known for playing Civil Rights activist John Lewis in Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated film, ‘Selma.’ The Canadian was also named a Rising Star at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. His additional feature credits include the football drama ‘When the Game Stands Tall,’ opposite Jim Caviezel, and ‘Home Again,’ in which James received a Genie Award nomination for Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
Shots Fired is produced by Undisputed Cinema and Imagine Television, in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is co-written by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood. The project is executive-produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo. Gina Prince-Bythewood will direct.
