Ice Cube Is ‘Flint Strong,’ Sanaa Lathan Does A ‘Hit & Run,’ Chris Rock Brings The 'Saw' Horror In New Flicks

Ice Cube, Sanaa Lathan and Chris Rock have some interesting projects coming down the pipeline. Deets inside...

 

Ice Cube is coming from behind the camera to star in a new movie.

The rapper-turned-actor-turned-producer will be starring opposite Ryan Destiny in Unviversal’s biopic, Flint Strong.

Ryan Destiny – who’s best known for her role on “STAR” – landed the lead role where she will portray Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a Flint, Michigan native who made history at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. At the age of 17, she boxed her way to becoming the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing and she was only 17. Woot!

In the sports drama, the BIG3 owner will play her boxing trainer, getting back to what he says is dramatic material like Boyz in the Hood. We can see that.

The film is based on the 2015 boxing documentary T-Rex by Zackary Canepari and Drea Cooper, which follows Claressa’s rise to fame. Mudbound’s Rachel Morrison (the first female cinematographer to be nominated for an Academy Award) will make her directorial debut and Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins (an Oscar winner) will write the script. Barry will also produce the film alongside Michael De Luca and Elishia Holmes under Michael De Luca Productions. Canepari, Cooper and Sue Jaye Johnson are executive producers, while Universal’s Erik Baiers and Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the studio.

By the way, Flint Strong will be Ryan’s first major film role since starring in Lee Daniels’ “STAR.” She’s also starring in the third season of “Grown-ish.”

Coming to a television screen newar you....

Fab chick Sanaa Lathan has landed the female lead in Netflix's upcoming action series, "Hit and Run."

Here's a synopsis of the series:

"'Hit and Run' centers on a happily married man, played by Fauda star Raz, whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a mysterious hit and run accident in Tel Aviv. Grief-stricken and confused, he searches for his wife’s killers, who have fled to the U.S. With the help of an ex-lover, Naomi Hicks (Lathan), he uncovers disturbing truths about his beloved wife and the secrets she kept from him.

Sanaa will play Naomi Hicks, a talented and ambitious New York journalist who is contacted by an old flame looking for help investigating a murder with newsworthy global implications.

Along with starring in the series, Fauda’s Lior Raz is the co-creator and executive producer of the series. Kaelen Ohm (Queen of Spades), Moran Rosenblatt (Fauda), and Gregg Henry (Scandal) will join as series regulars, while Gal Toren (Para Aduma) guest stars.

"Hit and Run" has started shooting principal photography in Israel after recently wrapping up production in New York.

Coming to the box office...

Comedian Chris Rock is changing up his usual comedic punchlines for a horror role. And we're here for it.

The funnyman will be joining forces with Samuel L. Jackson for Spiral: From the Book of Saw, the ninth entry of the Saw horror movie franchise. *shudders*

“I’ve been a fan of Saw since the first film in 2004,” the actor said in a previous statement. “I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.”

Entertainment Weekly breaks down what the film is about:

The latest sadistic mind game from one particularly messed up mastermind begins when Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Rock) and his rookie partner (The Handmaid’s Tale actor Max Minghella), working in the shadow of Jackson’s police veteran character, investigate a grisly murder.

They soon find these odd spiral designs decorating the crime scene and learn that whoever did this is targeting cops. One murder becomes multiple murders that are uncomfortably reminiscent of the city’s past. As it customary with Saw movies, the lead character finds themself trapped in the killer’s sick, twisted game.

The horror flick will give off the usual Saw vibes since Darren Lynn Bousman is returning to direct it after directing Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV. The screenplay was written by Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger (the scribes behind 2017’s Jigsaw), based on a story by Chris Rock. Veteran Saw producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules will also return. "Riverdale‘s" Marisol Nichols will also star in the horror film.

Peep the trailer below:

Spiral: From the Book of Saw is set to hit theaters May 15th.

Photos: Kathy Hutchins/ Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock.com

source: theybf