Whoopi Goldberg joins cast of upcoming Emmett Till movie

Whoopi Goldberg has joined the cast of Till, an upcoming film about the true story of a black teenager murdered by a white mob in Mississippi in 1955.

The EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) recipient will also produce the film, while playing Till's grandmother Alma Carthan.

Due to begin production later this year, the story centres around Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler) and her fight for justice. It will be directed by Chinonye Chukwu.

"We have waited a very long time to bring this historically necessary important film to people. And as we watch the repression of American History when it comes to people of colour it makes it even that more important,” Goldberg told Variety.

Elsewhere, the veteran star has been in talks to make Sister Act 3.

“For a long time, they kept saying no-one wanted to see it,” the actor told James Corden. “And then quite recently, it turns out, that that may not be true. People might want to see it. So we’re working diligently to try to figure out how to get the gang together and come back.”