Forest Whitaker is set to the take the lead in Tim Story's upcoming biopic Patriots. According to Variety, the film will center on Louisiana's John Ehret High basketball coach Al Collins.

The story will follow Collins as he leads his Patriots to the state championships a year after Katrina ravaged his school and displaced a number of his students. The film is the first project the Weinstein Company will produce under their new deal with the WGA.

Story stated, "I've gotten caught up with the Fantastic Four films but wanted to find a smaller film with heart, that brought me back to Barbershop and this has come together with one of the best actors out there. What Coach Collins did to give back the lives of his players is so inspiring."

The film will begin shooting in early April. It will most likely be released around Thanksgiving.