Despite a rough patch of controversy, the show must go on for the developing N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton.
Universal Pictures and director F. Gary Gray announced today, July 29, that they have found the remaining pieces for the storied rap group, casting Aldis Hodge and Neil Brown, Jr. to play MC Ren and DJ Yella respectively.
Neither actors are strangers to high-profile roles. Hodge gained facial recognition from 2008–2012 as Alec Hardison on TNT’s Leverage and Brown has appeared in The Walking Dead and 2009’s Fast & Furious. They will join O’shea Jackson, Jr. Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell on screen next August.
While Hodge and Brown’s casting jobs reportedly went down without a hitch, the same can’t be said for other areas of the production process.
A casting call by Los Angeles company Sande Alessi Casting caused an uproar after they sought female extras of all races, with the lowest category requesting women who were “poor,” “dark” and “out of shape.” Likewise, Eric Wright, Jr., the eldest son of N.W.A founder Eazy-E, had issues with Ice Cube’s son being cast as his father when he didn’t even get the opportunity to audition.
Check out the gallery of a few pics of Hodge and Brown. Given their experience in the business, do you think they’ll do a good job? Let us know your thoughts on how the movie is shaping up thus far.
H/T: Deadline
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Photo: WENN
