Actor John Boyega landed the lead role in HBO’s new boxing pilot titled Da Brick.

Boyega will play the central character, Donnie, in the ensemble drama, which was inspired in part by [Mike] Tyson’s youth and explores what it means to be a young, black man in supposedly post-racial America. Released from juvenile detention on his 18th birthday, Donnie begins an exploration of what it means to be a man both for himself, and to those around him.

Spike Lee is directing the pilot, with a script written by John Ridley. They, along with Doug Ellin, Jim Lefkowitz, and Mike Tyson are executive producing the soon to be new series.

Spotted @FarragutFoster via Deadline