The film will be based on Jennifer Thompson-Cannino's memoir "Picking Cotton," which detailed her developing friendship with Ronald Cotton, who was jailed for 11 years after she mistakenly identified him as her rapist.
No casting has been announced.
Leon received a Tony nomination for his direction of the 2010 revival of Fences. On Broadway, he has also directed the revival of A Raisin in the Sun and the Broadway premieres of August Wilson's Radio Golf and Gem of the Ocean. He is the co-founding artistic director of Atlanta's True Colors Theater Company and has served as artistic director of the Alliance Theatre. He is set to direct Every Tongue Confess at Washington's Arena Stage this winter; another production he will direct, The Mountaintop, is eyeing a Broadway run later this season.
