Chiwetel Ejiofor's 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' headed to Netflix

Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Netflix has acquired actor Chiwetel Ejiofor's upcoming directorial debut, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

Eijofor wrote the film and is also set to star. The project is based on the bestselling book of the same name by authors William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind follows 13-year-old William Kamkwamba who is taken out of school after his parents can no longer afford the fees. William sneaks back into the school's library and finds a way to build a windmill that saves his Malawian village from famine using parts of his father's old bicycle.

Newcomer Maxwell Simba is set to portray William in the film, with Ejiofor as his father. Aissa Maiga, Lily Banda, Lemogang Tsipa, Philbert Falakeza, Joseph Marcell and Noma Dumezweni also star.

Eijofor shot the film last year in Malawi. It is set for release on Netflix and in select theaters in the United States and U.K. in 2019.

"William's story represents, what has to be, the future in countries like Malawi: developing countries, overflowing with beauty and harboring enormous potential," Eijofor said in a statement.

"A global story, such as this, requires a global platform and I'm thrilled to be working with Netflix on bringing William's extraordinary tale of determination and inventiveness to audiences worldwide," he continued.

Eijofor is best known for starring in 12 Years a Slave and Doctor Strange. He will next be providing voice work in Disney's Lion King.