LOS ANGELES -- Ice Cube and his son O’Shea Jackson Jr., who played his dad in Straight Outta Compton, are in the early stages of packaging an L.A. riots-themed thriller at Lionsgate, Mashable has confirmed.
The eye-popping $60 million opening weekend for Straight Outta Compton -- which features a sequence that takes place during the riots following the acquittal of police officers on trial for the beating of Rodney King -- made April 29, 1992 an easier sell. The package, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, still needs some finalizing, but those involved are aiming to shoot as early as February.
Ice Cube and his son would both star in April 29, 1992, which follows an ex-con who must save his son from a looting raid on a jewelry shop. Compton executive producer Will Packer will produce, while Donovan Marsh is set to direct.
But after news spread about the father-son duo's role in the proposed film, Ice Cube's publicist walked back expectations, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Ice Cube and O'Shea Jackson Jr. have no plans to commit to this project at this time. Any speculations or rumors that suggest that they are confirmed are simply untrue."
In Straight Outta Compton, the story of the rise and fall of N.W.A directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday), Jackson plays his father. Which is pretty wild, because ...
The most meta movie moment ever may be the director of Friday directing Ice Cube’s son playing Ice Cube writing Friday #StraightOuttaCompton— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) August 18, 2015
UPDATED 9:30 p.m. PT to include statement from Ice Cube's publicist.