Ejiofor joins 'Gangster' cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor will play Denzel Washington's brother in the crime thriller 'American Gangster'.

Aug 22 2006

Rising British star Chiwetel Ejiofor has been cast opposite Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in the forthcoming crime drama 'American Gangster'.

Having played Washington's partner in 'Inside Man' earlier this year, Ejiofor will play his brother in the 1970s-set thriller which is currently shooting in the States.

Ridley Scott is directing the flick, which tells the story of Frank Lewis, a drug dealer who smuggled heroin into America in the coffins of dead Vietnam soldiers. He was arrested by lawman Richie Roberts (played by Crowe) before becoming a police informant.

John Ortiz, Yul Vazquez and Ted Levine also star, with rapper-turned-actors RZA, T.I. and Common filling out the cast.

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