King Casting Call

Any black actor chosen to play Martin Luther King Jr. in the upcoming big screen biopic, to be produced by Steven Spielberg, will have big shoes to fill. Rumor has it that Jamie Foxx wants the part, but TheRoot.com has other actors in mind. Check out their picks: Jeffrey Wright, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Haysbert, Dule Hill (of "The West Wing" fame), Cleavant Derricks (character actor who's done minor roles on TV), Laz Alonzo (of "Stomp The Yard" fame), Derek Luke, Nate Parker (of "The Great Debaters" fame), and British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Booker Rising response: No Don Cheadle, Forest Whitaker, or Michael Beach? Especially when I've never heard of some of these actors (Mr. Derricks, Mr. Alonzo, Mr. Parker)? This biopic needs a big name to open the movie, so I think the stars have the best shot. I'll be surprised if Mr. Ejiofor gets the role, because I think some folks will cry foul if a non-American wins this part. Even though I don't think he should get the part, TheRoot.com is sleeping on Will Smith.