Nick Cassavetes to direct ‘Freeway’ Rick Ross Biopic

Nick Cassvetes likes drugs. Or at least making movies about them. The filmmaker, who previously wrote the cocaine epic, Blow, directed both drug-centric films She’s So Lovely and Alpha Dog, and is currently in production with Yellow, (Wild Bunch are selling it at the EFM) the not-unlike his father’s A Woman Under the Influence, which centers around a young female with a drug habit, has been inked to direct a new biopic about the notorious drug dealer “Freeway” Rick Ross, as reported by Reuters and confirmed by both Cassavetes and Ross. Though he signed on to write the untitled screenplay this past June, Cassavetes only agreed to direct it last month. This also comes on the heels of news that The Notebook helmer has shown interest in the high-profile John Gotti biopic. Spotted the trend yet?

Gist: Not to be confused with the rapper Rick Ross, who actually derived his moniker from the famous dealer, Freeway Rick Ross’ claim to fame is that he sold up to 100 kg of crack cocaine and often cleared $2 million in a day. Just as famously, Ross’ supplier was the same man who became the link between the CIA and the Contras during the Iran-Contra affair and would ultimately aid in Ross’ capture leading the famed drug dealer to spend 13 years in prison.
For Cassavetes, part of Ross’ story hits close to home. “My brother was a mercenary. He worked in Central America training the Contras, so in a way the story is personal to me. The fact that our government may have been complicit in destroying an entire community of people makes the story personal for everyone.” The film will focus on the height of Ross’ career when his operation was headquartered in South Central Los Angeles and not dwell on his childhood or his time spent behind bars. “We become addicted to the power, the money, the manipulation, the whole lifestyle, the whole drug culture,” Ross said about dealers, “And you are going to get to see this in the movie, how a guy goes from being a novice to being a drug expert.”

Worth Noting: Ross seems to be heavily involved with the production thus far. He has stated that the script is finished and filming could begin this year if the proper financing is found. He also claims he has approached both Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg about producing and acting in the film, although no one has signed on to date. Big claims, but, hey, the guy’s nickname is Freeway!

Do We Care?: Despite his apparent dislike for comparing his own work to past films, Cassevetes told Reuters, “If I had to compare this movie to another that’s been made in terms of a feeling, a point of view, maybe ‘Traffic’. That’s certainly setting the bar high, but Cassevetes has definitely shown his range with his past work – though let’s try to please forget his two-episode stint on Entourage this past season. He’s capable of indie quirkiness (She’s So Lovely), searing romance (The Notebook), and real-life debate (My Sister’s Keeper), so who’s to say he can’t make a mulit-parallel-linking, non-preaching drug epic a la Soderbergh’s Traffic?