Ne-Yo, Method Man & Terrence Howard In “Red Tails” Film

In what will appears to be a pretty diverse cast, the highly anticipated film, Red Tails, is well under way:
What’s better than a historic film based on the Tuskegee Airmen…. the answer is a cast that rivals that of recent blockbusters including Dreamgirls, Stomp The Yard and the forthcoming flick ‘Fighting’.

Noted producer/talent George Lucas has put together a diverse cast for the anticipated World War II action/adventure ‘Red Tails’ that not only includes Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Ne-Yo but both Terrence Howard and Hip Hop veteran Method Man!

The trio, noted for their roles in other films including ‘Stomp The Yard’ and ‘Hustle & Flow’ will be joined by Cuba Gooding Jr., Bryan Cranston, Nate Parker, Elijah Kelly, Jesse Williams, Tristan Wilds (90210, The Wire), David Oyelowo and Lee Teregesen to name a few.

So just who exactly are the Tuskegee Airmen you may ask and why are these gentlemen on board for the film?

In the event that the Tuskegee Airmen were overlooked in your history textbook, as they often are breezed over, the group of young men from Tuskegee, Alabama became the first African American fighter pilots in the U.S. Military. In fact, their planes featured red painted tails — thus the title “Red Tails”.

According to Variety, “Red Tails” is slated to be shot in Europe this year and will likely hit theaters in mid-late 2010.

George Lucas, also known for “Star Wars,” recently conveyed excitement over the forthcoming picture:

“I’ve been wanting to do ‘Red Tails’ for 20 years, and we’ve finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots,” Lucas tells Variety. “We’re working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era.”

Lucas will executive produce and finance “Red Tails” through Lucasfilm production company with Anthony Hemingway directing.

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan is also slated to make her acting debut in the film centered around the young pilots’ struggle to overcome institutional racism in the early 1940s.

This is just what the ebony-deprived film industry needs right now. Who’s checking for Red Tails?