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.