Booboo Stewart to Produce and Star in CALEB’S CROSSING, based on the Novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks
Radar Pictures In Development on Historical Drama Caleb’s Crossing
Based on the Life of First Native American Harvard Graduate
Booboo Stewart (Descendants, Twilight) to Star and Produce
with Native American Filmmaker Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals)
Radar Pictures has secured the film rights to “Caleb’s Crossing,” the historical novel by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Geraldine Brooks. “Caleb’s Crossing” follows the life of Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, the first Native American graduate of Harvard University. A member of the Wampanoag tribe, Caleb graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1665, studying Latin and Greek among the colonial elite. Native American actor Booboo Stewart (the Descendants franchise, The Twilight Saga, X-Men: Days of Future Past) will star in the title role and produce.
Caleb’s Crossing will be developed by Stewart, Radar Pictures, Graham Thorburn and Native American filmmaker Chris Eyre (Sundance Audience Award winner Smoke Signals, PBS’ “We Shall Remain”). Sister screenwriters Mary Ann and Sheila Barnes will write and produce. Maria Frisk and Michael Napoliello will produce for Radar.
On stepping into the lead role, Stewart shared, “I am very honored to be a part of this project and so proud we can bring Caleb’s amazing story to life”.
Caleb was the first Native American to graduate Harvard – the year was 1665. Just a few years earlier, he was Cheeshahteaumuck of the Wampanoag tribe on Martha’s Vineyard. Sparked by a passionate desire to help his people survive the tides of English colonialism, Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck’s journey from island native to Cambridge scholar and back again, bridges an astounding cultural divide.
It is an extraordinary tale of struggle, tragedy and hope – a brutally honest and triumphant perspective on the New World that still resonates today.
“Telling this story of Native American history and the major accomplishments of Native Peoples is paramount to “our story” as Americans. Booboo is the perfect lead that will take us to new frontiers together,” said Eyre.
Caleb’s Crossing will be executive produced by Radar’s Ted Field, whose 30 years in the film industry have led to worldwide box office grosses topping $8 billion. He has produced over 60 films, including the Jumanji franchise, the Riddick franchise, Amityville Horror (2005), The Last Samurai and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003).
