Don Cheadle nabbed plenty of kudos starring in the based-on-truth tale of Paul Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda. And he’s decided that real-life stories are clearly a good idea for his next film.

He’s signed on for the lead in Talk To Me for writer-director Kasi Lemmons. The movie will tell the tale of Ralph Waldo “Petey” Green, a man who has spent years in prison in the 1960s. On his release, he joined the staff at a white-owned radio station and courted controversy for his outspoken views. He was so successful that he became a hugely beloved and famous on-air personality in Washington.

Twiddling the switches and keeping him heard will be Inside Man’s Chiwetel Ejiofor, who will play his producer, Dewey Hughes. Universal Studios’ Focus arm is handling it, and thinks they’ve got a winner on their hands, as company president James Schamus told The Hollywood Reporter, "Petey's story is dramatic, funny and vital. The combination of this director and these two gifted actors will not only entertain but illuminate - qualities that we look for in Focus movies."