As one of the clear new discoveries of the year, Attack the Block’s John Boyega has happily registered on Hollywood’s radar, and he’s just nabbed his first big US job. Boyega has landed one of the lead roles in Spike Lee’s new HBO drama Da Brick, which is based on aspects of former boxer Mike Tyson’s youth.
Spearheaded by Entourage creator Doug Ellin, Da Brick will revolve around the titular character, AKA boxer Donnie (Boyega) and his friends and family.
In the pilot, written by Red Tails’ John Ridley and which Lee will direct, Donnie is released from juvenile detention on his 18th birthday and must start to find his way in the world. The show is described as “a contemporary exploration of what it means to be a young, black man in a supposedly post-racial America.”
Also in the cast are Milauna Jemai as Donnie’s mother, Julito McCullum as Kevin, his troubled best friend and Kamahl Naiqui Palmer as Malik, who has enjoyed a better upbringing than his mates but still struggles with his environment.
If HBO actually commissions a full series, Ridley will run the show and Boyega will get a chance to break out properly in the States. That said, we figure he’ll manage either way. He’ll next be seen alongside Eddie Marsan and Romola Garai in Junkhearts.