The only surprising thing about an NWA biopic is that no one’s made one yet. On that note, prepare to be, uh, surprised no longer.

“New Line is developing Straight Outta Compton, an urban drama about N.W.A. (a.k.a. Niggaz With Attitude).  The project will chronicle the rise and fall of the rap quartet, founded by Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and MC Ren, whose songs were so incendiary (i.e. “F— tha Police”) they were banned from radio playlists but still sold millions of albums. Then came the inevitable fiery breakup, a grudge match between the former bandmates, and Eazy-E’s tragic death due to AIDS. The film’s producers, which include Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Tomica Wright (Eazy-E’s widow), and Circle of Confusion entertainment, are now actively searching for a director along the lines of Curtis Hanson (8 Mile).” [HollywoodInsider]

8 Mile is a guilty pleasure of mine (“Ah heard yer a real dope rapper”) and I love NWA. One of the side effects of being white is that I’m unable to appreciate rap until five or six years after it comes out.  However, Ice Cube playing himself could be a problem.  As commenter Burnsy once so succinctly put it, “It’s amazing that 20 years ago I would have sh*t my pants if Ice Cube made eye contact with me and now I’d like to put my ice cream cone on his head.”  Hey, maybe Fred Durst could direct.  *fart sound*