S. Samuel
The search for an upcoming N.W.A. biopic director appears to be intensifying as new reports claim Boyz n the Hood's John Singleton has not yet landed the role.
According to new reports, directors behind 2005’s Hustle & Flow and 1990’s cult classic Friday are now being considered.
It appears that the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton is rapidly coalescing — but it may not be with John Singleton directing. Though he recently told the Playlist that he was talking about doing the project with his Boyz n the Hood cohort and N.W.A. alum Ice Cube (who is producing Compton), insiders say that New Line Cinema is focusing on three other directors: Hustle & Flow‘s Craig Brewer, who’s expressed strong interest; Ice Cube’s old Friday director, F. Gary Gray; and, intriguingly, Friday Night Lights‘ Peter Berg. Clear eyes, full hearts … f*ck tha police? (New York Mag)
This week, Singleton hinted at his possible involvement in the film.
“I can’t talk too prematurely about the stuff I’m doing because nothing’s come to fruition yet, but Cube and I are talking about doing the N.W.A. story… The script is really, really good, and so we’re just figuring it out. New Line really wants to make it.” (Prefix Mag)
Various writers have already been attached to the long-awaited film project.
Who that script is written by, at least in terms of the latest draft, is unclear. Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center, the upcoming Fugees biopic), S. Leigh Savidge (The Legend of Dolemite, director of Welcome to Death Row a doc about Death Row Records), radio veteran Alan Wenkus and Matt Alvarez (a producer on most of Ice Cube’s films) have all had their names attached to the project so it very well could contain elements from all four writers. If so, it seems like a good team whose past and future credits qualify them to tell the story of one of rap’s greatest and most notorious ensembles hailed by Rolling Stone as 1 of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” list (despite only having two albums). Not to mention that Eazy-E‘s widow, Tomica Woods-Wright, and Dr. Dre will also serve as producers on the film. (First Showing)
A year ago, Ice Cube updated fans on the film and revealed some key points it would cover.
“I’m trying to get the N.W.A movie made. I want to get a good script together and find a director. The movie is gonna cover how we got together, how we broke up and what happened after that,” says Ice Cube. And while he says he’s not yet sure who will play members of the iconic 80s rap group, Cube says he’s already has clear vision on how the movie will begin and end. “The bookmarks for the movie will be when [Dr.] Dre started DJing for his Momma doing house parties up to Eazy’s [E] death. There’s no reason to go after that.” (VIBE)
Check out some past Ice Cube footage down below:
