Stephan James has been cast as a lead in the Fox event series “Shots Fired,” TheWrap has learned.
James, who starred as Olympian Jesse Owens in the movie “Race” joins previously announced star Sanaa Lathan in the event series.
The series focuses on a police shooting in a small Tennessee town involving an African-American officer and a white teenager. James will play a special prosecutor assigned to the case by the Department of Justice. Lathan will play an expert investigator. The series is set to debut in 2016.
In addition to “Race,” James was part of the cast of Ava DuVernay‘s critically acclaimed feature “Selma.” He received a Black Reel Award nomination for Breakthrough Performance, and shared with his fellow actors the Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble. His additional feature credits include the drama “When
Undisputed Cinema and Imagine Television are producing “Shots Fired” 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. Prince-Bythewood will direct.