Jack O'Connell and Laura Dern to star in 'Trial By Fire'

Actors Jack O'Connell and Laura Dern have joined the cast of "Trial By Fire." Jack is expected to play death row inmate Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted of the arson deaths of his three children.

Dern, 50, will play Elizabeth Gilbert, a Texan housewife who sets out to get him released as she believes he has been falsely convicted, reported Deadline.

The fact-based drama is being directed by Ed Zwick, who will also produce alongside Allyn Stewart and Kipp Nelson, and Alex Soros.

The filmmaker became fascinated by the tale when he first red David Gann's Polk Award-winning 2009 article in The New Yorker.

"From the moment I read David's brilliant reporting eight years ago, I have been possessed by this deeply moving, true story of injustice," Zwick said.

"The story was all there, with these two compelling characters. It is a remarkable story about people. Not just capital punishment but justice, which is a very important word right now. It has to have that pull to keep you pushing it up the hill this many years."

Production is set to start on October 2 in Atlanta.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)