On the heels of winning his second Oscar, Mahershala Ali has come on board the independent science-fiction movie "Sovereign".

Marc Munden will direct based on a screenplay by "A Quiet Place" writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Greg Weidman and Geoff Tock wrote an original draft of the script, with revisions by Jack Thorne.

"We have long loved this project and have been patiently waiting until we found the right leading actor, which we no doubt have found in the incredibly talented Mahershala Ali," said Nick Meyer, eOne's President of Film, in a release Wednesday. "The cast is clearly shaping up well and is backed by a creative team with a proven track record and the ability to tell a story that will resonate with audiences around the world."

Ali is no stranger to the sci-fi and fantasy world. He most recently showcased his sci-fi chops in Fox's Alita: Battle Angel and also starred in the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). He also appeared in Luke Cage as well as The Hunger Games franchise. In addition to winning the Oscar for Green Book (2018), he won the Academy Award for his role in Barry Jenkins' Best Picture winner Moonlight (2016).

Source: Press Release