Straight Outta Compton breakout star Jason Mitchell and the boy at the center of Boyhood, Ellar Coltrane, have joined the cast of BARRY, the forthcoming Barack Obama biopic. They join previously cast Anya Taylor-Joy and newcomer Devon Terrell, who will portray the young Obama. Vikram Gandhi is directing, from a script by Go the F*** to Sleep author Adam Mansbach.
Set in 1981, the movie follows the young President-to-be as a college student finding his way through the urban wild of New York City. It’s production comes on the heels of the Sundance favorite Southside With You, which told the story of Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date.
Ghandi will produce alongside Teddy Schwarzman and Ben Stillman through their Black Bear Pictures, with Dana O’Keefe producing for Cinetic Media.
Mitchell, whose performance as NWA founding member Eazy-E drew rave reviews last summer, will next be seen in the action comedy Keanu from Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael Key. He’s currently filming Kong: Skull Island opposite Brie Larson. He is repped by UTA and Authentic.
Coltrane is coming off of The Circle, starring Emma Watson, John Boyega, and Tom Hanks. He is repped by UTA and Cinetic Media.
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Josh Lyons | Managing Editor
This story was first reported by Variety.
