Michael K. Williams To Play Ol' Dirty Bastard in Biopic
Comingsoon reports that Michael K. Williams is set to play Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard (Russell Jones) in a new biopic. Dirty White Boy is being developed by Lars Knudsen and Jack Vay Hoy's Parts & Labor, the team who produced Mike Mills' Beginners. They are working with Todd Hagopian at Ocean Size Pictures to produce the movie about the late rapper. Williams is best known for playing Omar Little on HBO's The Wire and most recently seen as Chalky White on Boardwalk Empire. The film will be directed by first-time Joaquin Baca-Asay based on the screenplay by Brent Hoff.
Baca-Asay has worked on such films as Mills' Thumbsucker, Rodger Dodger, We Own The Night, and the comedy Super Troopers. He also directed commercials and music videos, having directed the video for Jay Z's "99 Problems" for which he won an MTV Video Award.
Here is a statement from Knudsen and Vay Hoy:
"We both knew full well who Ol' Dirty Bastard was but this story completely floored us. As filmmakers, we knew that this would make a great film and that Jarred Weisfeld would offer an actor a complicated and compelling character to play. This felt to us like 'Risky Business' and '8 Mile,' with equal elements of darkness, humor, and humanity."
"We are thrilled to have the genius of Joaquin Baca-Asay behind the camera, directing this incredibly original screenplay by Brent Hoff. I know Michael K. Williams will leave audiences completely in awe as Russell Jones, the man behind the character ‘Ol' Dirty Bastard," Hagopian added.
I remember listening to Wu-Tang's first album and the various solo albums and being blown away. Williams seems like a great fit for the role. I am interested in seeing this story on the big screen.
Do you think Williams is a good fit for the role?
Watch one of my favorite O.D.B. videos below:
