The Burial: Jurnee Smollett joins cast of Jamie Foxx-Tommy Lee Jones’ Amazon legal drama

Jurnee Smollet will be the female lead in the upcoming Amazon Studios’ film The Burial. She will share the screen with seasoned stars Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones.

According to Variety, the film will be based on a 1999 New Yorker article by Jonathan Harr. The article was based on a legal case involving a funeral home owner who becomes bankrupt and files a case against one of his business rivals. The owner then hires an exuberant lawyer to deal with the case. The payout from the case was a whopping $500 million. Foxx will essay the role of the lawyer, Willie Gary.

Smollett will reportedly play the role of opposing counsel.

Jones’ will portray the role which was initially to be played by Harrison Ford, who had dropped out from the film last month.

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The film will be directed by Maggie Betts, known for her directorial debut Novitiate, starring Margaret Qualley. Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright will pen the film’s script. Amazon Studios, Bobby Shriver Inc.,Double Nickel Entertainment and Foxx will serve as producers.

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Smollet is perhaps best known for her starring role in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, which earned her critical acclaim and an Emmy Award nomination for best lead actress. In addition to appearing in shows like Parenthood,Underground and True Blood, the actress has also been part of the DC superhero film, Birds of Prey. She will reprise her role as superhero Black Canary in the upcoming HBO Max spinoff film.