Actress Taraji P. Henson has been roped in to play mathematics genius Katherine Johnson in upcoming film "Hidden Figures".
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", reports variety.com.
Director Ted Melfi is in talks to helm the project.
The story centres on Johnson, a brilliant African-American mathematician who, along with her colleagues Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson, served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in the US history - the momentous 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.
Glenn flew the Friendship 7 mission in 1962 and became the first American to orbit the Earth.