There's no stopping Issa Rae. The creator and star of Insecure, or HBO's buzziest show not named Game of Thrones, is hitting the big screen for the first time ever. As reported by Variety, Rae will join the star-studded cast of The Hate U Give, alongside Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Algee Smith, Lamar Johnson, and Common.
Related | Amandla Stenberg to Star in Black Lives Matter Movie
In the film adaptation of the hit novel about police brutality, Stenberg plays 16-year-old Starr, a student at a suburban prep school who comes from poverty. The movie focuses on her moral dilemma of being caught between two worlds after witnessing police shoot her unarmed best friend, with Rae playing an activist named April who helps Starr find her voice.
In an era of increased scrutiny of police violence and the rise of the Black Lives Matter protest movement, the film and book couldn't come at a better time. Since releasing in February after a bidding war between 13 publishers, The Hate U Give has spent 22 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. The announcement that Rae is joining the cast comes also amidst the news that her critically-acclaimed show was just picked up for a third season.
