Actress Kirsten Dunst has joined the cast of Hidden Figures, which also stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae and Kevin Costner.
Hidden Figures, which will be helmed by Ted Melfi, tells the true story of African-American female mathematicians at Nasa, who provided the calculations that helped fuel some of the US’ greatest achievements in space.
While deadline.com shared the news of Dunst joining the cast, the details of her role is not out yet.
Production banner 20th Century Fox has been developing the adaptation of Margot Lee Shetterly’s book Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race.
The story is told through the personal accounts of the four women known as the Colored Computers and their accomplishment is set against the background of the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement.
The story centers on Katherine Johnson, a brilliant African-American mathematician who along with her colleagues, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson, served as the brains behind the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and his safe return.
The three women crossed all gender, race and professional lines while embarking on the mission.
