First Showing gives us the lowdown:
The project will have Eminem playing a fast-rising welterweight boxer who brawls his way to the title, only to see his world crash down around him due to tragedy; he must fight to win back his life for his young daughter…However, no deal is in place for Southpaw yet, so there’s a chance that Fuqua could still end up taking the reins of that Tupac biopic.
Now, I for one like Eninem (for the most part) in 8 Mile – although he was more or less playing a semi-autobiographical type role in that film. But this feature will be the one to test his acting chops. I am somewhat skeptical when it comes to musicians taking on acting roles unrelated to music or gangsta hip hop culture. Most people are. For every LL Cool J and Mos Def there’s Eninem’s pal 50 Cent, or worse, DMX or Ja Rule.
If Fuqua winds up directing, I’ll go see the film. He’s an underrated director with good films that don’t cut it at the box office too well for some reason. As much as I loved Brooklyn’s Finest, King Arthur and Tears Of The Sun…there’s only so much juice he can ride on Training Day. We’ll see how things go.
How about the Int’l friends? Wanna see Slim Shady box?
