John Ridley’s ready to direct a film about the 1992 Los Angeles riots, with Broad Green Pictures partnering with Imagine Entertainment to produce the dramatic film. Ridley wrote the script and according to Broad Green Pictures’ official announcement, filming is expected to get underway on the still untitled project in the spring of 2016.
Brian Grazer (American Gangster) is on board as a producer. Ridley’s credits include an Oscar win for the 12 Years a Slave screenplay as well as creating the Emmy-winning American Crime series.
“This is a seminal event in our country’s history, the reverberations of which are still far too relevant today,” stated Broad Green Pictures founders CEO Gabriel Hammond and Chief Creative Officer Daniel Hammond. “We were blown away by John’s amazing screenplay and we know that under his direction and the aegis of Imagine the film will be truly incredible. This is why we started this company. To make movies like this.”
“We have barely seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of John Ridley’s talent,” added Grazer. “I am confident that he will capture the magnitude of the events that unfolded and the issues that led up to them. He will show the world why the riots cannot and should not be forgotten.”
The Plot:
In April of 1992, America’s worst civil disturbance in the 20th century took place in Los Angeles. Sparked by the acquittal of four LAPD officers tried for the near-fatal beating of black motorist Rodney King and fueled by racial tension, growing despair surrounding the economic climate, and a deep-seated distrust of law enforcement, the riots left the city devastated. Looting and fires ravaged Los Angeles for four straight days leaving more than 50 dead and 2,300 injured, an estimated $1 billion in property damage and the city divided. Based on true events, the film tells the story through the eyes of several key figures involved in the uprising and the events that led to it.
