Henson and Strong are set to collaborate on The Best of Enemies, a film based on the remarkable true story of civil rights activist Ann Atwater and Ku Klux Klan member C.P. Ellis. Strong would produce the film with Henson set to star as Atwater, the Durham, North Carolina native who had a years-long rivalry with Ellis, a KKK leader. When a desegregation order through the city into turmoil in 1971, Atwater and Ellis worked together in a series of community meetings to try and reach a compromise. It was an experience that changed both of their lives forever and showed to all that whites and blacks could work together to achieve a common goal. Their story was chronicled in Osha Gray Davidson's book which serves as the basis for the film.
The film will mark the writing and directing debut by Robin Bissell, a producer on The Hunger Games, with Tobey Maguire also lending his producing muscle to the project. [Deadline]
