The Free State of Jones, the upcoming Civil War drama from The Hunger Games‘ Gary Ross, has added two more to its cast. According to TheWrap, both Mahershala Ali (“House of Cards,” The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Keri Russell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, “The Americans”) are set to join the previously-announced Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club, Mud) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beyond the Lights, Jupiter Ascending).
The film, a true story, follows a slave named Rachel (Mbatha-Raw) who has a relationship with McConaughey’s character, a man named Newton Knight, leading Knight to rebel against the Confederacy during the Civil War.
According to the outlet, Russell will play Serena Knight, the wife of McConaughey’s character. Ali, meanwhile, will play an escaped slave named Moses Washington. Washington becomes an ally of Knight and plays a key role in Knight’s secession plans.
The movie is being produced by Ross with Scott Stuber and John Kilik for STX Entertainment, co-financing the $65 million movie with IM Global and splitting distribution.
Production on The Free State of Jones is currently underway in Louisiana. No release date has, as of yet, been announced, but check back for additional details on the project as they become available.
(Photo Credit: Brian To/WENN.com)
