Ice Cube will executive
produce and star in a new film, "Willie."
Casting has started
on the drama, which is based on the true story of Willie Davis, who served as
a full time janitor of Louisiana’s Arthur Smith Junior High and was also the
school’s basketball coach.
Davis led the team
to three district championships, touted an impressive 101-21 record and all
of his starters earned straight A report cards.
Davis, who has
been featured on HBO and in Sports Illustrated, is seeking to earn his college
degree.
With the help
of a donation from an unknown philanthropist who was moved by his story on HBO,
Davis returned to college and has started started taking courses through Northwestern
State University’s Internet studies program.
"Willie"
is the first of several films Ice Cube will produce under a deal between his
Cube Vision productions and Revolution Studios.
Cube will also
produce two other films under the deal with Revolution, the action film "Clash"
and the roadtrip comedy "Are We There Yet?"
Filming for "Willie"
starts in the fall.