Octavia Spencer to Star in FRUITVALE

As first reported on The Hollywood Reporter, Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer will star in FRUITVALE, an upcoming movie about a 2009 controversial police killling. 'Friday Night Lights' star Michael B. Jordan is currently in negotiations to join the actress in the story of a man shot and killed by San Francisco police. The film will be produced by Forest Whitaker and his Significant Productions partner Nina Yang.

FRUITVALE will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler and will tell the story of Oscar Grant, "a young black man detained on New Year's Day 2009 by the Bay Area Transit Authority police and shot in the back and killed. The event was captured by many cell phone cameras, with the ensuing trial and its verdict causing protests and riots." Fruitvale is the name of the police station where the incident occurred.

Jordan is up for the role of Grant, the 22-year old man who crosses paths with friends and enemies on that fateful day. Spencer would portray his tough and protective mother. Production is set to begin this July in northern California.

Spencer won the best supporting actress Oscar this year for her work in The Help. She is currently filming Diablo Cody's untitled directorial debut starring Russell Brand and Julianne Hough. She is also set to star in the sci-fi movie Snowpiercer.