Derek Luke, who got critical acclaim playing Patrick Chamusso in 'Catch A Fire', has just been cast opposite Michael Ealy, John Turturro, James Gandolfini, Omar Benson and and Tory Kittles in Spike Lee's war film, 'Miracle at St. Anna'.
According to Variety, Luke will play one of four members of the U.S. Army's all-black 92nd Division who get separated from their squad behind enemy lines. The soldiers, bitter about racism and the feeling that their own government treats its enemy better than it does them, finds humanity in the small Tuscan village of St. Anna.
What's interesting is that Luke is replacing Wesley Snipes in the lead role.
Snipes withdrew because it became too difficult for him to leave the U.S. and shoot in Italy while he fights federal tax-fraud charges. Though Snipes has pleaded not guilty to evading taxes and falsely claiming millions of dollars in tax refunds, the actor had problems when he traveled to Africa after his indictment to complete work on "Gallow Walker." At the time, a U.S. magistrate gave him until Jan. 10 to surrender his passport.
This would have been a huge comeback for Snipes, but Luke is on a good streak these days that I believe Lee made the right choice. Luke will next be seen in the Tom Cruise film, 'Lions for Lambs', that also stars Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.
Comments: (14)
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By: aissatou on 10/05/2007 7:48AM
I can't wait to see this movie!
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By: James on 10/05/2007 8:07AM
This would have been a perfect vehicle for Snipes, its to bad he couldn`t take it.///romans8.noniworks.net
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By: BeautifulLovedBlessed on 10/05/2007 8:20AM
Can't wait to see this. I love Spike Lee's work. Good cast selections too.
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By: D. T. Ameil Matthews I on 10/05/2007 9:55AM
I personally feel that Micheal Vick is a target to black athletes, due to past atheletes actions, O.J.Simpson is a prime example, so Vick is the fall guy for all black atheletes, This thing has been blown out of portion to much, sure he should be punished, but to band him from the NFL, rediculious in my opinion.I stand behind Vick all the way in trying to keep his job,I am a animal lover as well. To send some one to prison for killing a animal come on, then where does that leave a human if murdered?is a animal more important than I am/ go figure!.
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By: Jermaine duple on 10/05/2007 10:12AM
Michael Ealy, is teh black male star of this film. That boy is talented. We need more black actors like him. Derek Luke-have no idea who he is and if will uplift the race in the media or be a Cedric teh entertainer and say stupid stuff about Rosa Park-ya know never know with black entertainers anymore-they are the roots cause of why blacks are viewed as sub-human but Ealy has been a positive force-so I dont trust when black media owned by whites at Time Warmer-AOL have a blogger prop up someone.
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By: MIJB on 10/05/2007 11:18AM
Good choice of actors,so i know it is going 2 be a good movie. Good luck with the movie...Mary Jones-Bailey.
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By: BA TIMETRAVELER on 10/05/2007 11:27AM
Have always been a 'spike' fan. ever since 'inside man' spike has been the man. Enjoy it spike
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By: Patt on 10/05/2007 1:06PM
BA Time Traveller, Spike has been the man since "School Daze", "Do the Right Thing", "She Got to Have It". "Crooklyn", "Jungle Fever" and other great films dealing with a variety of themes in the Black experience in amerikkka. Let's travel time well and not forget the important lessons of the past. Our future depends on it...
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By: Belinda on 10/05/2007 5:42PM
I think this will be a good movie. Too bad Snipes was unable to do it. The IRS are dogged. They get hold of you and they won't let go. In the meantime while Snipes is fighting this in federal court, the interest and penalties just keep on growing. It's never a good idea to try and hide anything from the government if you're high profile and BLACK.
I wish him the best in this fight. When a person doesn't claim a cettain amount of money, the government then steps in and puts the hidden earnings much higher than they actually were.
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By: blaqgod on 10/05/2007 7:11PM
The only thing that I like from Spike Lee was the Katrina documentary. It's very difficult to screw up a real life story. Inside Man was the final straw for me. All of that build up for such a promising movie and Spike had to screw it up. In my opinion, he hasn't evolved his talents of movie directing. All of his shots are the same. From the spinning around the room effect(makes me dizzy) to the actor coming up close to you on a board effect. He's done the same routines over and over again. It's ridiculous. I prefer him doing documentaries. Let someone else do the storytelling and let him just shoot and edit.
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