After working with Warner Bros. on Ron Howard‘s whale tale “In the Heart of the Sea,”up-and-coming British actor Osy Ikhile has been cast alongside Djimon Hounsou in the studio’s 3D live-action movie “Tarzan,” TheWrap has learned.
Alexander Skarsgard will star as the legendary title character, and he’ll be joined by Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson and Hounsou, who is playing a villainous warlord.
Ikhile has landed a key supporting role that will keep him on set for the majority of the shoot.
Also read: Osy Ikhile, Ben Whishaw Set Sail for Ron Howard’s ‘In the Heart of the Sea’ (Exclusive)
David Yates, who directed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters, will direct from a screenplay based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Jerry Weintraub is producing with David Barron, Alan Riche and Peter Riche.
Warner Bros. will release “Tarzan” on July 1, 2016.
Like John Boyega (“Star Wars: Episode VII”) and Dayo Okeniyi (“Terminator: Genesis”), Ikhile is a rising young black actor who has been sought for major productions, having just wrapped Ron Howard‘s high-profile adventure movie “In the Heart of the Sea,” in which he plays a sailor.
Also read: Osy Ikhile Joins Nicholas Hoult, Jim Piddock in Dark Comedy ‘Kill Your Friends’
Ikhile most recently wrapped a supporting role alongside Nicholas Hoult in Owen Harris’ dark comedy “Kill Your Friends.” He previously starred in the Channel 4 miniseries “The Fear,” and his other credits include the popular UK series “Misfits,” “Fresh Meat,” “Casualty” and “Blackout.”
Ikhile, who also starred alongside Robert Sheehan in the indie movie “Jet Trash,” is represented by Sam Turnbull at Curtis Brown Group and Thruline Entertainment.