George Lucas Produced ‘Red Tails’ Gets Its Cast

Published by Jeff Leins on: April 6th, 2009

George Lucas has been talking about making a movie based on the Tuskegee Airmen since 1990.  Finally, he’s realizing the dream by producing Red Tails, the story of the first African-American pilots to fly in World War II.  This will be the first feature film he’s produced that isn’t a Star Wars or Indiana Jones story since 1994 (Radioland Murders).

Thankfully Lucas isn’t directing the feature, but is leaving the day-to-day in the hands of Anthony Hemingway.  However, those hands have never directed a feature film before, and the first assistant director is making his debut under the wing of Lucasfilm.  Also, Lucas may have brainstormed the story idea, but John Ridley (Undercover Brother) wrote the screenplay.  On top of that, Method Man has been cast in one of the roles.  Ouch.  This thing is spiraling fast…

To pull it off of the tailspin, Lucasfilm recently hired Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Bryan Cranston. Now we’re talking.  Even though he was dropped from Iron Man 2, Howard has a track record of solid acting.  Cuba Gooding Jr. can step up when he’s given something to work, and hopefully he remembers how after wining an Oscar and disappearing into family films.  The big news (for me anyway) is Bryan Cranston.  Currently starring in the Emmy-winning series and frankly awesome series “Breaking Bad,” Cranston has proved he’s more than just the goofy dad on “Malcom in the Middle” or Whatley the dentist on “Seinfeld.”  The man can act.

More reasons to be excited are some of the lesser known members of the cast.  Tristan Wilds (Michael on HBO’s “The Wire”), Andre Royo (Bubbles on “The Wire”), and Lee Tergeson (from HBO’s “Oz” and “Generation Kill”).  What?  I love HBO.

If you want to know more about the WWII squad, check out the great 1995 film The Tuskegee Airmen with Laurence Fishburne.