EXCLUSIVE: Ice Cube and his Three Kings director David O Russell are in talks with New Line to re-team to create a potential franchise. Cube will play a plainclothes detective who’s quick on the trigger in an R-rated raw drama that’s thematically a throwback to those 70s revenge films like the Harry Callahan movies that starred Clint Eastwood. The deals are underway and the idea was hatched by Russell and New Line chief Toby Emmerich, and they brought it to Cube. Russell will produce with Cube and his Cube Vision partner Matt Alvarez. Jeff Kwatinetz manages Cube. They are still working out the beats of the story, but Russell and Cube were eager to work together again, in another edgy, R-rated adult drama that is an homage to those 70s pictures like Dirty Harry and Death Wish. While Cube is most readily identified with Los Angeles, the tough cop’s locale hasn’t yet been determined.
Russell might co-write it, but New Line will likely bring someone else in to get the project started. Russell is coming off a re-team with Cube’s Three Kings costar Mark Wahlberg, who stars with Christian Bale in The Fighter, the Relativity Media-funded drama which Paramount Pictures releases on December 10. Russell is has several projects including Old St. Louis with Vince Vaughn and he just came on to rewrite and direct for Sony an adaptation of the Playstation 3 game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Cube is starring in Rampart, playing a detective who’s hot on the trail of a crooked LAPD officer at the center of a corruption scandal. The film is being directed by Oren Moverman from a James Ellroy script, with Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Ben Foster and Steve Buscemi also starring. UTA and Jeff Kwatinetz rep Cube, CAA reps Russell.
How will this effect Are We There Yet 3?
This wont effect “Are we there yet?”
Cube has lost his street cred. Who cares.
By making money…? Yeah okay Danny. Last time I checked, making money in the street was part of the point behind making it in this business. Don’t knock the man for his hustle, he’s doing exactly what he’s supposed to be doing; feeding himself, feeding his loved ones and not ending up a typical black gang banging stereotype. Tell me what you know about “street cred” Danny?
Danny boy probably manages Pauly Shore.
Drink up your Hater-ade, Danny!
Wow, this sounds so horrible. Sad to see Russell, who gave us work as inventive as “Three Kings” and “I Heart Huckabees” apparently all out of ideas.
And just FYI to anyone, nothing on earth makes you sound more like a middle-aged white bread suburban dad than actually using the words “street cred.” Wow…
i heart huckabees sucked
Yeah, it did. But I mean at least he was TRYING to do something interesting and original.
I’m going to come flat out and say it, Cube is a lousy actor. He had potential but he played it safe with the low brow comedies everyone has come to expect from black actors. He’s made lots of money but now he’s 40 and typecast as a juvenile buffoon. The person who said he has no street cred is wrong, he has no credibility period as an actor or a draw. Instead of a cop he needs to play a Heavy but at this point playing a cop is probably a lot easier for him.
This movie will never get made.
Cube is a soft, like warm cookies fresh out of the oven. He’s Mr. Disney. Cube was never street from the get – go. He’s middle class. He’s phony baloney.
This should do as well as XXX: State of the Union.
Ewwww Ice Cube.
Toby, O’shea and David,
I hope you or one of your assistants or creatives is reading this.
Why not cast HUGH JACKMAN as Harry Callahan in your retread of Dirty Harry? Great idea, but wrong actor for the lead role.
What are you going to call it?
If you want this to succeed a year or two from now at the box office retool your vision. Make Clint Eastwood proud. He won’t be around forever. His shoes are good for Hugh.
He’s the cat who won’t cop out when there’s danger all about — CUBE – shut your mouth!
Don’t let Toby throw this one on you, Hamada!
Cracking story with that bunch is a sentence to hell.
When I read comments like the ones hurled at Ice Cube on this thread, I know unequivocally that RACISM is alive and well in Hollywood. Everyone knows that Cube is not the best actor in the world, but his movies are successful and make money. People, across the racial spectrum, turn out for his flicks, by and large. And people like him. He’s a rapper that fuddy duddy parents can say they like and their kids who remember NWA — or, um, “Are We There Yet” — will agree.
It would be one thing if the trolls were objective but they seem to hold out particular vitriol for young black men (and women) who are doing well. I mean, let’s face it — Kevin James ain’t the best actor in the world, but he’s everyone’s ‘favorite’ actor of zaftig-ness. The thesps on that CBS comedy show “Big Bang Theory” aren’t world beaters either (though, yes, they do kick ass in the ratings) and everyone’s foaming over them. Hollywood is more in love with CHarlie Sheen, in spite of his half-baked TV show (not to mention his extracurriculars with slatternly ladies and swanky NY hotels)
Yup. There is a DOUBLE STANDARD out there.
Go on with your successful career Cube. You do what you do. And keep that cash register going ka-ching while the nattering nabobs of negativism quaff down prodigious volumes of Hater-Ade.
@bobby the saint
Racism is a reality, especially in Hollywood but these comments are no barometer. For the most part the people who post here come across as PR people and/or struggling writers/producers/directors who are frustrated with lack of work. I watch them disparage EVERYBODY regardless of color on here. I can tell it’s personal for some because unlike someone like myself who just dabbles in the business these people probably have families depending on this crazy industry. They’re desperate.
I’m black and I stopped watching Cube a long time ago because I evolved and he didn’t. He sold out and stunted his growth for the almighty dollar. He made lots of money playing extremely stereotypical roles so what people say on here should not matter. He chose money over craftsmanship and he got it.
A lot of people here have nothing good to say about anyone and that’s why they post anonymously. Myself, what I say I say from the heart. He’s a lousy actor. After 20yrs he should be much better but he didn’t give himself a chance. He started out better than Will Smith but look at them now. Is it racism to state the obvious?
curtis, thanks for sharing the thoughtful perspective.
— bobby
Why would he be a better actor after 20 years when he shouldn’t have been there in the first place? Why is it that once you get a record deal you’re automatically an actor? This guy made music and that’s what he should have stuck with. I can’t stand seeing people like this guy in movies because they just ruin them. This isn’t a black thing, this is everyone who releases a music album and becomes an actor because of it. Justin Timberlake. I hate this guy so much and the reason is because he is in movies he shouldn’t be in and because he’s in them I don’t want to see the movie anymore.
Cube soft? Did you not see Boyz n the Hood, Higher Learning or Three Kings? Would Oren Moverman put a “soft” actor in one his films? Cube has chops and the filmography to prove it. 20 years later Cube is still Amerikka’s Most Wanted.
Well his character in BNTH was like reality.
Wayne Brady unavailable?
How would you feel if Hollywood made a Shaft movie starring Vin Diesel or maybe cast Dicaprio as Malcolm X. Oh but it’s fine if they make a Honeymooners movie starring Mike Epps and Cedric The Entertainer. Seriously? These two guys?? Casting Jayden Smith as The Karate Kid is perfectly acceptable right?
I think Cube has potential, and always has, but if he is going to be playing this character, I hope he goes all out and gets in shape and makes more of an effort to build up his acting chops for this role. He has it in him, I just hope he puts forth the effort and delivers. I haven’t even seen Triple XXX, but I could tell from the commercials that Cube didn’t really look like he got into better shape for it, and to me, just that alone, being in better shape, will determine the level of credibility this role will have.
Also, I have to say, of course Ice Cube has been extremely successful in life and yes he’s made alot of money, but more than one person on here has insinuated that this fact equates ‘success’ in the film industry. An actor can make alot of money and still be working outside of the realms of integrity. I think for Cube to be able to take his acting craft to the next level, he’ll have to quit playing it safe and really delve into some meaty roles, not just some meaty rolls;) J/K, Anyhow, I faith in him, and I hope this role redefines him as an actor and is a success. Peace and Love all.