Having just won his second Academy Award for his role in ‘Green Book’, and currently starring in the sci-fi epic ‘Alita: Battle Angel’, Mahershala Ali has his pick of upcoming projects, but he has chosen to remain in the realm of science fiction. Ali had signed on to star in ‘Sovereign’, written by ‘A Quiet Place’s Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. ‘A Quiet Place’ was a breakout hit that took everyone by surprise, and it looks like this studio is looking for another shocker by keeping the plot of ‘Sovereign’ under wraps.
Three-time BAFTA Award winner Marc Munden (‘Utopia’, ‘The Mark of Cain’, ‘National Treasure’) is directing. ‘Sovereign’ will be financed and produced by Entertainment One, with 21 Laps Entertainment’s Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, and Dan Cohen also producing. Levy, Levine, and Cohen also produce ‘Stranger Things’, and the acclaimed 2016 sci-fi film ‘Arrival’. While Beck and Woods penned the current screenplay, the original was written by Greg Weidman and Geoff Tock, with a revision by Jack Thorne.
eOne’s president of film, Nick Meyer announced the film’s production, saying:
“We have long loved this project and have been patiently waiting until we found the right leading actor, which we no doubt have found in the incredibly talented Mahershala Ali. The cast is clearly shaping up well and is backed by a creative team with a proven track record and the ability to tell a story that will resonate with audiences around the world.”
In a joint statement, Levy, Levine, and Cohen added:
“Much like our film Arrival, this project is for us a dream pairing of an inspired screenplay with a truly visionary director. Marc Munden has been an exceptional collaborator in shaping this singular story into one that jumps off the page and with the phenomenally talented Mahershala Ali at the heart of this film, we feel we now have the dream creative partners to tell a story that audiences won’t forget.”
Ali can be seen in the current season of ‘True Detective’ as well as ‘Alita’ which is still in theaters. He can also be heard in the Academy Award-winning ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ which is now out on Blu-Ray/DVD/4K. That picture will also be returning to theaters this weekend in celebration of its Oscar victory. Before ‘Green Book’, Ali won the Academy Award for 2017’s ‘Moonlight’. Other credits include films like ‘Hidden Figures’ and ‘Free State of Jones’, and TV series like ‘Luke Cage’, ‘House of Cards’, and ‘Treme’.
Check back for updates on ‘Sovereign’ as they arrive.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
