Jackie Earle Haley and Mark Boone Jr have joined Nate Parker’s slave drama, currently shooting in Savannah, Georgia.

The story tells of slave-preacher turned revolutionary Nat Turner, who in 1831 led the most successful slave revolt in American history.

Haley will portray slave patrol captain Raymond Cobb while Boone Jr will play Reverend Walthall, a preacher who develops a plan to use Turner to pull his owner Samuel Turner out of debt. 

Parker stars alongside previously announced Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Aunjanue Ellis, Coleman Domingo, Dwight Henry, Roger Guenveur Smith and Gabrielle Union.

The Birth Of A Nation hails from Bron Studios, Phantom Four, Mandalay Pictures and Tiny Giant Productions in association with Follow Through Productions, Infinity Entertainment, and Creative Wealth Media Finance. 

Bron’s Aaron L Gilbert produces with Parker, Kevin Turen, Jason Michael Berman and Preston Holmes.

Executive producers are David Goyer, Mike Novogratz, Michael Finley, Tony Parker, Jason Cloth, Jane Oster, Barb Lee, Carl Lindner III, Derrick Brooks, Ryan and Jill Ahrens, Armin Tehrany and Mark Moran.