Actress, writer, and producer Issa Rae will star alongside Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Algee Smith, Lamar Johnson, and Common in a new film, “The Hate U Give,” which is adapted from Angela Thomas’ debut novel of the same name.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 06: Actress Issa Rae arrives at the premiere of HBO’s “Insecure” at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center on October 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

According to Variety, Rae will play April, the activist that helps Stenberg’s character find her voice and speak up. It follows the story of high school student named Starr (Stenberg). After growing up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood, Starr attends a  suburban prep school, but after she witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend, she’s torn between her two very different worlds as she tries to speak her truth.

Thomas’ book, bought by HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray after 13 publishing houses bid on it at auction, was published Feb. 28 and has spent 22 weeks on the New York Times young adult best-seller list after debuting at No. 1.