MALCOLM X director SPIKE LEE is set to take on another hot-button political issue when he brings the drama of the 1992 Los Angeles riots to the big screen.
Lee is teaming with top Hollywood producer BRIAN GRAZER and the pair hope to begin shooting next year (07).
The riots, which followed the acquittal by a white jury of four police officers who were videotaped beating black motorist RODNEY KING, caused the deaths of 55 people, thousands of injuries and close to $1 billion in damages.
Grazer said the subject matter was "the best way to use Spike's power as a filmmaker, to tell an even-handed story that gets beyond the iconic pictures that we all remember." Lee adds, "This isn't about some cavalcade of stars, but rather a truthful and realistic examination of what happened, what the ramifications were and where we are now, in hopes that something like this doesn't happen again.