Giancarlo Esposito to Direct & Play Frederick Douglass in John Brown Film, ‘Patriotic Treason’

Actor Giancarlo Esposito ( Breaking Bad / Once Upon a Time ) has been working on a film project about abolitionist John Brown titled, Patriotic Treason .

Esposito, who will co-produce direct the feature, will also take on the role of abolitionist movement leader Frederick Douglass alongside actor Ed Harris ( Gone Baby Gone / Gravity ) who will play Brown.

Based on the book Patriotic Treason: John Brown and the Soul of America by Evan Carton , the film is being adapted by Jose Rivera ( Motorcycle Diaries / On The Road ).

Hopefully the film will shed a much-needed light on Brown, whose legacy is lodged somewhere between madman and martyr for his attempt to start a slave revolt at Harper’s Ferry in 1859.

Though the movement resulted in 10 abolitionist deaths, including two of Brown’s son, as well as his own execution, it was one of many events that fueled the Civil War.

Patriotic Treason will be co-produced by Spectrum Films and Act 4. Filming is set to begin next summer.

[spotted via shadowandact ]

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