Anthony Mackie is set to star in the new film about 1967 Detroit riots.

The 'Captain America: Civil War' star is set in the upcoming movie directed by Katherine Bigelow alongside Will Poulter, John Boyega, Jack Reynor and Ben O'Toole, according to Deadline.

The 37-year-old actor worked with Bigelow on the 2007 blockbuster 'The Hurt Locker'.

The upcoming production will trace the events that took place in America in June in the sixties, which spread over five days, and saw 43 people die whilst 1,189 were injured with even more arrested.

The uproar erupted as a result of racism following a number of police raids, which were carried out in after-hours bars.

The project is currently being filmed in Boston, and the growing cast is set to jet to Detroit later in the year.

It is believed the creative team is aiming to have the movie wrapped up in time to release it in 2017, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the momentous event and in time for Mackie to finish the project before he reprises his role as Falcon in the two new 'Avengers' films.

The 'Love the Coopers' star is also signed up to play Johnnie Cochran in a film that follows his pursuit of justice following the Signal Hill police brutality case in 1981.