Straight Outta Compton (film): Difference between revisions

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Straight Outta Compton is an upcoming 2015 American biographical drama film directed by F. Gary Gray. The film revolves around the rise and fall of the Compton, California rap group N.W.A, whose members include Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. The film's title is borrowed from the title of N.W.A's 1988 debut studio album. Straight Outta Compton is set for theatrical release on August 14, 2015.^[5][6]

Synopsis

"In the mid-1980s, the streets of Compton, California, were some of the most dangerous in the country. When five young men translated their experiences growing up into brutally honest music that rebelled against abusive authority, they gave an explosive voice to a silenced generation. Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A, Straight Outta Compton tells the astonishing story of how these youngsters revolutionized music and pop culture forever the moment they told the world the truth about life in the hood and ignited a cultural war."^[7]

Cast

Production

Development

In March 2009, it was announced that the film was in development at New Line Cinema, with writers S. Leigh Savidge and Alan Wenkus^[9] and Tomica Woods-Wright, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre set to produce the film.^[10] In May 2010, it was announced Andrea Berloff would write a draft of the screenplay.^[11] In September 2011, John Singleton told The Playlist that he was in talks to direct the film, saying: "I can’t talk about it 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."^[12] Also in September 2011, F. Gary Gray, Craig Brewer, and Peter Berg were reportedly in talks to direct the film.^[13] In April 2012, F. Gary Gray was selected as director.^[14] Gray has worked with Ice Cube in the film Friday and Dr. Dre in the film Set It Off. By 2013, the film had been picked up by Universal Pictures, who hired Jonathan Herman in December 2013, to write a new draft of the script and brought in Will Packer to executive produce.^[15][16]

Casting

Casting calls began in the summer of 2010. There had been rumors of Lil Eazy E playing his late father Eazy-E, and Ice Cube's son and fellow rapper O'Shea Jackson Jr. playing his father as well. Ice Cube said of the movie, "We're taking it to the nooks and crannies, I think deeper than any other article or documentary on the group," he said. "These are the intimate conversations that helped forge N.W.A. To me, I think it's interesting to anybody who loves that era and I don't know any other movie where you can mix Gangster Rap, the F.B.I., L.A. Riots, HIV, and fucking feuding with each other. This movie has everything from Darryl Gates and the battering ram."^[17]

On February 21, 2014, director F. Gary Gray announced a March 9, 2014 open casting call for the film in Gardena, California via his Twitter account.^[18] There were also open casting calls in Atlanta and Chicago.^[19][20] Rapper YG auditioned to play MC Ren in the film.^[21] The project was scheduled to start filming in April 2014 but was pushed backed due to casting delays.^[22][23][24]

On June 18, 2014, Universal officially announced that the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton would be released in theaters August 14, 2015. It was also confirmed that Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., will play a younger version of his father in the movie. O'Shea Jr. will join Jason Mitchell and Corey Hawkins who will portray group members Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, respectively, in the film.^[25] In early July 2014, casting directors for the N.W.A biopic issued a casting call for extras and vintage cars in the Los Angeles area for scenes in the movie. The casting call release stated that filming would begin in August 2014.^[26] In July 2014, it was confirmed Aldis Hodge would portray MC Ren and Neil Brown, Jr. would play DJ Yella.^[27][28] On August 15, 2014, Paul Giamatti joined the cast to play N.W.A's manager Jerry Heller.^[29] On August 26, 2014, Keith Stanfield joined the cast to play Snoop Dogg.^[8]

Filming

Straight Outta Compton began filming on location in Compton, California on August 5, 2014.^[30][31] Just seven days into filming in Compton, a drive-by shooting took place directly in front of the cast and crew members while they were on set. A group of men standing outside the Compton Courthouse flashed gang signs at a passing car and passengers in the car opened fire on the group. No one affiliated with the film was injured or shot at, but one civilian right next to the set was hit. Despite the incident, it was announced that filming would continue to take place as planned in the city.^[32] In early September 2014, principal exterior shooting on a large post-riot set was observed on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in North Hollywood.^[33]

On December 3, 2014, during a show in Sydney, Australia, Ice Cube gave concertgoers a sneak peek at the first Straight Outta Compton trailer. Footage from the show was leaked online the next day.^[34][35]

Marketing

On February 8, 2015, Universal Pictures released the first official trailer for the film Straight Outta Compton. The red band trailer was preceded by an introduction featuring N.W.A members Dr. Dre and Ice Cube.^[36] A second "Global" trailer for Straight Outta Compton was released on April 1, 2015 and attached with theatrical screenings of Universal's Furious 7.^[37]

References

External links

• Official website
• Straight Outta Compton at IMDb
• Straight Outta Compton at Box Office Mojo