It’s taken over five years, but Universal’s biopic Straight Outta Compton is finally getting its cast together. According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources claim that they have found their Dr. Dre and Easy-E – and they may have their Ice Cube too.
In the role of Dr. Dre will be Marcus Callender who has been seen on Criminal Justice on HBO as well as Blue Bloods and Elementary. Rumours state that they originally wanted Michael B. Jordan to play the Beats co-founder, but his scheduling with Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four have put a stop to that. Playing the late Easy-E is said to be Jason Mitchell who, according to sources, knocked it out of the park in his audition and was cast on the spot. From what some are reporting, Mitchell’s background is in kitchen work, although he has has minor roles in the likes of Contraband, Dragon Eyes and Broken City.
It has been said for sometime that Ice Cube has been lobbying for his son O’Shea Jackson Jr to take on his role. The Hollywood Reporter seems to think he’s gotten his wish.
Straight Outta Compton has been in production for some time now. Complications have arisen with the scripts as Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Easy-E’s widow Tomica Wright have sign off on everything to do with the movie and have been reportedly very difficult to please (Wright was the last person to sign off). Principal photography, based off the script written by Jonathan Herman, is expected to begin in two months.
Originally published June 16, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
