'True Blood' Star Nelsan Ellis Cast in James Brown Biopic

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The actor behind True Blood's Lafayette is moving from Bon Temps, Louisiana to the hustle-and-bustle of Mississippi.

Nelsan Ellis has been cast in Get On Up, the upcoming James Brown biopic from director Tate Taylor and producers Brian Grazer and Mick Jagger. Ellis will play Bobby Byrd, the longtime friend and musical collaborator of "The Godfather of Soul," to be played in the film by 42's Chadwick Boseman.

Ellis' role is reportedly one of the biggest in the film, which also stars Oscar nominee Viola Davis and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, both of whom Ellis starred with in The Help. This has already been a big year for Ellis. In addition to a successful season of True Blood, which enters its final season next year, the actor was on screen as Martin Luther King Jr. in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, one of the biggest hits of the summer.

Get On Up will begin production in Mississippi next month, working from a script by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and Steven Baigelman. Victoria Pearman (Crossfire Hurricane) and Erica Huggins (Flightplan) will also serve as producers.

Via: Deadline