Veteran actress Phylicia Rashad is set play a tough lesbian in Selma director Ava DuVernay's upcoming Tv cop drama.

The former The Cosby Show star will portray Fbi agent Georgina Howe in For Justice, which will follow her character's attempt to find balance in her personal and professional life.

Filmmaker DuVernay will direct the project, which is based on James Patterson's novel The Thomas Berryman Number.

DuVernay and Patterson will serve as an executive producers, alongside Robert De Niro and his business partner Jane Rosenthal.