Will Smith is producing a film about Hurricane Katrina, but he can’t star in it, so who does he want to take lead? None other than Denzel Washington.

The film, called The American Can, is based on the true story of ex-Marine John Keller and how he and he apartment at the American Can complex ward off looters after the levees break. Two days later, after saving the lives of many people, help finally came. Keller’s story has been told in documentary form before, in New Orleans: My Home, My Life, My Love, but this seems like the perfect movie for Denzel Washington. In fact, it may be his best movie in a while if he does agree.

The project surfaced in 2009 and had The Blindside writer and director John Lee Hancock attached, but it’s been quiet since. Smith is quite busy with M Night Shyamalan’s One Thousand A.E. with his son Jaden and it doesn’t help that Men in Black 3 has hit some snags in development. This sure is an exciting project, however. Hopefully Smith can nab Denzel and bring it to fruition. Watch some of New Orleans: My Home, My Life, My Love below. [Vulture via The Playlist]

denzel washington, hurricane katrina, the american can, will smith