The Lifetime network has announced new details for its developing original film examining Flint’s water crisis.
On Thursday, the cable network revealed that Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Betsy Brandt and Marin Ireland will star in the Craig Zadan and Neil Meron-produced film, which is inspired by writer Josh Sanburn’s 2016 Time magazine cover story “The Toxic Tap.”
“Flint” will depict the true story of three activists from the city ― portrayed by Scott, Brandt and Ireland, with Latifah playing a fourth resident ― who are fighting to expose and bring justice to the events surrounding their lead-tainted water supply, according to a press release.
Since details surrounding the quality of Flint’s water supply emerged in 2014, many have expressed their frustrations with the lack of prevention efforts and referred to the disaster as environmental racism.
The humanitarian disaster later prompted former President Barack Obama to issue a state of emergency to the area in 2016, and drew a slew of donations from the likes of Beyonce, Mark Wahlberg, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Eminem and Cher ― who recently withdrew from her role in the Lifetime film due to a “serious family issue.”
Previously, Scott and Latifah co-starred in Lifetime’s 2012 remake of the 1989 film “Steel Magnolias.”
Production for “Flint” begins next week.
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Source: HuffPost Black Voices