Kevin Costner is joining Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer in the drama “Hidden Figures,” TheWrap has learned.
The Fox 2000 film is directed and produced by “St. Vincent” director Theodore Melfi, who is producing alongside Chernin Entertainment and Donna Gigliotti of Levantine Films.
Costner is set to play the head of the space program in the film that follows an African-American mathematician (Henson) who, along with two female colleagues, was the brains behind astronaut John Glenn’s first trip into space and back. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962.
The film will be adapted from Margot Lee Shetterly’s forthcoming book “Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race.” The HarperCollins book is looking at a September 2016 publication date.
Costner and Spencer appeared together in 2014’s “Black and White.” Costner’s other recent credits include “Man of Steel,” “3 Days to Kill” and “Draft Day.” His next film is the thriller “Criminal,” in which he will star opposite Tommy Lee Jones.
Costner is represented by WME, Rogers & Cowan and Zero Gravity Management.