Netflix’s untitled Monsanto drama has added six to its current cast. LaKeith Stanfield, David Duchovny, Greg Kinnear, Julia McDermott, Melonie Diaz and Bilal Hasna have all joined the film, which is currently in production in Germany.
It is based on the true story of the landmark 2018 trial in which attorney Brent Wisner took on chemical giant Monsanto on behalf of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a high school groundskeeper who alleged he developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after prolonged exposure to Monsanto’s widely used weed killer Roundup. A San Francisco jury ultimately found Monsanto liable and awarded Johnson $289.2 million.
Jonathan Bailey stars as Wisner, with Laura Dern playing Monsanto’s chief toxicologist Dr. Melinda Rogers, who testifies that Roundup is safe. Character details for the newly announced cast members are being kept under wraps.
The film is directed by John Lee Hancock, known for The Blind Side and Saving Mr. Banks, from a script he co-wrote with Michael Wisner, Alexandra Duparc and Ned Benson.
The film is produced by Moritz Borman, Eric Kopeloff, Philip Schulz-Deyle, Adam McKay, Kevin Messick and Jon Levin. Netflix acquired the rights for $34 million. No release date has been announced.