Chiwetel Ejiofor, RZA and John Ortiz have joined the cast of Ridley Scott's "American Gangster" for Universal Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter.
The 1970s crime drama is based on the life of drug kingpin-turned-informant Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), who shipped heroin to the U.S. in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam.
Lucas was brought to justice by lawman Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). The two then worked together to expose the crooked cops and foreign nationals.
Rappers-turned-actors T.I. and Common, as well as Ted Levine, John Hawkes and Yul Vazquez also have been cast. Ejiofor will play Washington's brother, who helps Frank run his heroin empire.
