Jason Mitchell joins Detroit riots movie from Kathryn Bigelow

Jason Mitchell is going from the City of Angels to the Motor City. The actor known for playing Eazy-E in Straight Outta Compton has been cast in director Kathryn Bigelow’s untitled drama set against the backdrop of the 1967 Detroit riots, the filmmakers announced Friday.

Mitchell joins an ensemble that includes John Boyega of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Will Poulter of We’re the Millers, as well as Jacob Latimore, Algee Smith, Ben O’Toole, Jack Reynor, Kaitlyn Dever, and Hannah Murray.

Plot details have yet to be revealed for the movie, which is currently in production in the Boston area, but it is said to explore systemic racism in urban Detroit. The script is written by Mark Boal, who previously collaborated with Bigelow on The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.

The film is being financed and produced by Annapurna Pictures and is eyeing a 2017 release date. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the violent unrest that unfolded over five days and resulted in National Guard troops being sent into Detroit.

Since his breakout role in Compton, Mitchell appeared in the cat caper Keanu and has also lined up roles in Kong: Skull Island, Barry, and Mudbound.