Edward James Olmos is set to direct "The Crystal Frontier," a bilingual drama about U.S.-Mexico border issues and the far-reaching effects of both countries' immigration policies, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Based on a novel by Carlos Fuentes, The Crystal Frontier is a series of nine interlinked stories about how economic, sociological and political factors affect people on both sides of the border. Olmos Productions will co-produce with the University of Guadalajara, which owns the rights to the screenplay. Olmos will also appear in the film.

"It is a sociological study of humanity in Mexico and the U.S.," Olmos said. "We probably won't do all nine stories because it would be too complex, but it's a great commentary on what's going on along the border."

Filming will begin in August, with a targeted Spring 2008 release.

Olmos is of course best known to genre fans for his role as William Adama on Battlestar Galactica, though the actor has been in scores of other roles, including as a regular on Miami Vice and a recurring role on The West Wing.