Octavia Spencer has signed on to co-star opposite Taraji P. Henson in Fox 2000’s “Hidden Figures.”
The film is based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s book “Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race,” published by HarperCollins.
According to Variety, the story centers on Johnson (Henson), a brilliant African-American mathematician who, along with her colleagues Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson, served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history — the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and his safe return. The three women crossed all gender, race and professional lines while embarking on the mission. Spencer will play one of the three mathematicians.
Glenn flew the Friendship 7 mission in 1962 and became the first American to orbit the Earth.
“St. Vincent” director Ted Melfi is attached to direct and produce the film along with Chernin Entertainment and Donna Gigliotti of Levantine Films.
The book will be published in September from HarperCollins.
In the meantime, Spencer is set to reprise her role in “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” and will also play God in “The Shack,” which premieres later this year. She also recently filmed Marc Webb’s “Gifted” opposite Chris Evans.
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(Photo Source: AP)
