Ice Cube and Disney? Considering the rapper/actor has mixed up his grittier film roles with stuff like “Are We There Yet?” and “The Longshots” we can’t be too surprised, but the choice of project is a little big interesting as Deadline reports that Ice Cube and Disney are teaming up on the car culture feature he’s been shopping titled “Chrome And Paint.”
Previously reported earlier this winter, the project is one he co-wrote with Eva Vives (“Raising Victor Vargas“), and will delve into the South Central LA “subculture of tricked out Mercedes, BMW and Low Rider cars to frame a drama about the temptation to place materialism above all else.” Ice Cube was aiming for a late summer shoot, and it looks like he got his wish.
Vives will re-write the script to bring the rating down to PG-13 from the originally envisioned R-rating but the whole project seems to be at odds with Disney’s new tentpole-and-toy-sales-friendly motto. Described as a mix between “Saturday Night Fever” and “American Graffiti” we’re still not quite sure how this film mixes into the new mouse house mandate, especially considering this is the same studio that recently politely sent Joseph Kosinski‘s sci-fi pic “Oblivion” aka “Horizons” packing. Though, if they can partner up with Hot Wheels and Matchbox and sell some toy cars are something, perhaps everyone involved will be happy.
The film will mark Ice Cube’s second directorial feature after “The Player’s Club” way back in 1998 but that’s not the only picture he’s working on. He’s got a Dirty Harry style franchise with David O. Russell attached as well as a brewing N.W.A. biopic set up over at New Line but those seem to be on the backburner for now. No word yet on a release date for “Chrome And Paint” though 2012 isn’t outside the realm the possibility.
