I thought I'd start a topic on this as finally there is a confirmed script and director. Slash film reports:
http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/10/01/anthony-hemingway-to-direct-george-lucas-red-tails/
Red Tails is one of those projects that I’ve never been interested in. George Lucas has been developing the film since 1989, and was originally going to direct the movie himself. He infamously put the project aside to helm the Star Wars prequels. It has now been officially announced that Anthony Hemingway (The Wire, CSI: NY, ER) has signed on to helm the project.
Scripted by John Ridley, the story follows the true events surrounding the first African Americans to become US military pilots in WWII. At first harassed on Racial grounds, the Tuskegee Airmen went on to become heavily in-demand, and were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. LucasFilm is financing the project for a reported $30-$35 million. Production will begin early next year in Prague, Italy, Croatia and England.
Okay, to recap: We have a film developed by George Lucas for the last 20 years, written by the guy who created Undercover Brother and directed by a television director? I’ll pass.
Oh and I'll add Variety's article because they mention McCallum as producing and a start date of March '09.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117993137.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
Lucasfilm has tapped Anthony Hemingway to direct "Red Tails," the WWII action adventure about the Tuskegee Airmen based on a story by George Lucas.Lucas will exec produce and finance the pic through his Lucasfilm production company. Lucas tapped scribe John Ridley to pen the script last year.
Rick McCallum and Charles Floyd Johnson are producing. Production starts in March in Italy, Prague and Croatia.
"Red Tails" revolves around the young pilots who overcame institutional racism in the military to form the Tuskegee Airmen, the fliers who become the first African-American fighter pilots in U.S. military history. Their planes featured the red-painted tails that give the film its title.
Hemingway's helming credits include episodes of "CSI: NY," "Heroes" and "The Wire."
Better than the rumour a few months back that Lucas offered the directors seat to Samuel L Jackson.
I'm not too interested in this, but I thought some people might be since it's been a long time coming.