Hollywood is, once again, delving into the compelling experience of the Tuskegee Airmen, “the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II,” next year with the release of Lucasfilm’s Red Tails, starring actors Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., and acting upstart, singer Ne-Yo.
According to The New York Times, Lucasfilm announced the movie will pemiere Jan. 20, 2012, and released a trailer for the period piece.
The film, directed by Anthony Hemingway, will also star Bryan Cranston, David Oyelowo, Tristan Wilds, Marcus T. Paulk, Kevin Phillips, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael B. Jordan, Nate Parker, Elijah Kelley, Method Man and singer Jazmine Sullivan, who will make her acting debut as the love interest of one of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Legendary filmmaker George Lucas, executive producer for Red Tails, released a statement expressing his excitement about the film and his admiration for the Tuskegee Airmen.
“I’ve wanted to do this film for a great many years. So it is especially gratifying to see it all come together. The Tuskegee Airmen were such superb pilots that it was essential for us to create visual effects that would live up to their heroism and put audiences in the cockpit with them. They were only in their early 20s when they performed these amazing feats. They became the best of the best — the top guns.” –nicholas robinson
