Isaiah Washington joins basketball movie

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Isaiah Washington has booked his first major feature film role since exiting "Grey's Anatomy" under a storm cloud in June 2007.

He will star opposite Forest Whitaker in "Patriots," a fact-based sports drama that starts shooting this week in New Orleans.

The Weinstein Co. project is set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when a high school basketball coach assembled a team of players who had previously attended five different schools and led them to the state championships. Washington will play an assistant coach. Tim Story directs.

Washington's contract with ABC for "Grey's" was not renewed after the actor became involved in a backstage controversy involving a homophobic slur. He quickly moved to a prominent guest-starring role on NBC's "Bionic Woman."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter