John Ridley Miniseries Guerrilla Sets Freida Pinto As Female Lead

Freida Pinto has inked a deal to board Guerrilla, the six-part miniseries setting up shop at Showtime.

Written, directed and executive produced by John Ridley, Pinto will star opposite Idris Elba as Jas Mitra, the female lead in a series that has been pitched as a love story set against one of the most politically volatile periods in UK history. The role of her significant other, Marcus, is yet to be filled.

Coming together to form a radical underground cell in 1970s London, Guerrilla sees the impassioned couple stage a revolt that places the proverbial crosshairs on the Black Power Desk, a true-life counter-intelligence unit founded on the basis of crushing any and all forms of black activism.

Idris Elba will executive produce the miniseries alongside John Ridley who, after clinching an Oscar for his work on 12 Years a Slave, is set to cast light on social injustice once more.

Here’s an overview of Guerrilla, which will air via Showtime and Sky Atlantic at some stage next year.

[Guerrilla] is a love story set against the backdrop of one of the most politically explosive times in U.K. history. It tells the story of a politically active couple whose relationship and values are tested when they liberate a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell in 1970s London. Their ultimate target becomes the Black Power Desk, a true-life, secretive counter-intelligence unit within Special Branch dedicated to crushing all forms of black activism.

Showtime is yet to nail down a production timeline for Guerrilla, but we’ll let you know when we hear more. As for Freida Pinto, the Indian actress recently had roles in Jungle Book and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and will soon headline upcoming indie drama Love Sonia.