OT: Lucas making film on Tuskegee Airmen

The creator of the blockbuster Star Wars series is ready to bring another story about high-flying heroes to the big screen.

George Lucas is writing and producing a new movie on World War II’s Tuskegee Airmen, the Air Force’s first black fighter pilots. The film’s title is Red Tails, taken from the group’s popular nickname: Red-Tailed Angels.

Anthony Hemmingway, best known for his work in HBO’s “The Wire” and “Oz,” is set to direct. Actor Terrance Howard (Iron Man and Pride) is a prospect to headline the cast.

The Tuskegee Airmen’s story received little attention in the entertainment industry until a 1995 HBO film starring Laurence Fishburne gave them a larger-than-life presence in popular culture.

While the HBO movie had a small budget, only around $8.5 million, Lucas’ film will likely have multiple-times that amount and feature cutting-edge special effects. Lucas could also land a major distributor such as Dreamworks/Disney or 20th Century Fox.

“Red Tails” follows Spike Lee’s critically-acclaimed Miracle at St. Anna, which centered on the experience of black Buffalo Soldiers during WWII.

Read more here and here.

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