HBO's DA BRICK casts ATTACK THE BLOCK star John Boyega, Julito McCullum of THE WIRE

09/01/2011 by Peter Dimako | Source: The Hollywood Reporter

John Boyega, Julito McCullum join HBO's Da Brick boxing drama

New Attack the Block phenomenon John Boyega as well as Julito McCullum have boarded the Spike Lee and John Ridley HBO project with Boyega landing the role of the titular character.

Da Brick is being described as a contemporary exploration of what it means to be a young, black man in a supposedly post-racial America.

Boyega plays Donnie, who, after a stint in a juvenile detention center, is released on his 18th birthday and starts his exploration into becoming a man and the effect it has on him and those in his life.

Also in the cast of Da Brick are Milauna Jemai of NCIS as Donnie's mother Lynette, who reconnects with her son after being separated for fourteen months.

Julito McCullum plays Donnie best pal Kevin and the one person he cannot leave behind, no matter if he wants to or not.

Gossip Girl's Kamahl Naiqui Palmer plays Malik, part of Donnie's tight group of friends who searches for direction between the realities of his environment and his his middle-class upbringing.

This comes after news that Da Brick is being executive produced by Mike Tyson, as well as writer John Ridley, Doug Ellin (Entourage) and Spike Lee.

I'm not surprised in the least in this bit of casting news of John Boyega in Da Brick after Attack the Block's widespread critical acclaim, under the helm of Tintin co-scripter Joe Cornish. Watch out world, there's a new star on the horizon, and he's going far.