The film is set against the backdrop of Detroit’s devastating riots that took place over five haunting days in 1967.

John Boyega is joining Kathryn Bigelow’s untitled Detroit crime drama, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While details of the “Star Wars” actor’s role are under wraps, the film is set against the backdrop of Detroit’s devastating riots that took place over five haunting days in 1967. The project hopes to explore the systematic racism in the city, with a “roll call that is described as an ensemble piece.”

Once the news was officially released, the actor also tweeted about his involvement with the project and posted a powerful image of the riots.

https://twitter.com/JohnBoyega/status/745324400078106626

https://twitter.com/JohnBoyega/status/745327661971542020

READ MORE: John Boyega Will Play Lead Role In ‘Pacific Rim 2’

Production is slated to start this summer in Detroit and Boston, with hopes for the film to be released in 2017. The script is written by Marl Boal and is being produced by Bigelow, Boal, Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison and Matthew Budman, and Colin Wilson. Greg Shapiro will serve as executive producer.

At this moment there is no studio attached as distributor, but the movie will be financed by Annapurna Pictures.

READ MORE: Kathryn Bigelow’s Pilot ‘Mogadishu, Minnesota,’ About Jihadi Recruitment, Picked Up By HBO

Boyega is currently shooting “Star Wars: Episode VIII” and will play the son of Idris Elba’s character in “Pacific Rim 2.”

Bigelow and Somali Canadian rapper-singer-songwriter K’Naan Warsame also teamed up for a new Jihadi recruitment drama, “Mogadishu Minnesota,” that has recently been picked up by HBO.

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