Beginning five years ago, when news was announced that a biopic of Compton based gangsta rap group NWA was in the works, constant speculation began about who would play the group's lead members Ice Cube, Eazy E and Dr. Dre. Now, since Set It Off director F. Gary Gray has signed on to direct the production that shoots this summer, word comes that the casting of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Eazy E have been named.
Reportedly New York's Shakespeare Lab alum Marcus Callender is said to have landed the role of Dr. Dre. And unknown actor Jason Mitchell has been hired to play late NWA member Eazy E. Reports also say Ice Cube’s son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., has been cast to play Cube who also serves as one of the film's producers.
Although there's no word yet on when the biopic is expected to be released, this NWA film is only one of the movies we’re excited about.
Taking things from Compton to Selma, billionaire media mogul, Oprah, will be in the upcoming film Selma. Portraying Annie Lee Cooper, one of the leaders among civil rights protesters in Selma, AL, the Ava DuVernay directed film is the buzz of the industry.
Selma depicts the struggles and triumphs of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1965 voting campaign that took place during the civil rights movement. And now, with Winfrey’s casting (she’s also a producer on the film), Selma will reunite her with Lee Daniels’ The Butler co-stars David Oyelowo and Cuba Gooding Jr. While rapper/actor Common, as well as singer Ledisi, have also been cast.
But as usual with Hollywood black films we’re excited about, like the NWA movie, there’s no word yet on when Selma will be released.
