Leguizamo may get Singleton's 'Shaft'
Thesp to play villain opposite Samuel L. Jackson
The actor-comedian will play villain Peoples Hernandez opposite Samuel L. Jackson, who will limn the title role of John Shaft.
Pic, which is produced by Scott Rudin and starts production in Gotham in August, follows the exploits of P.I. and sex machine John Shaft as he battles crime in New York.
Leguizamo will next be seen in Touchstone Pictures' "Summer of Sam," directed by Spike Lee. The pic, which premieres in the Directors Fortnight at next month's Cannes Film Festival, is due in theaters July 30.
The thesp also stars with Val Kilmer and Ethan Hawke in Frank Whaley's directorial debut, "Joe the King," which was produced by Leguizamo's Lower East Side Films, 49th Parallel Prods. and Forensic Films.
Leguizamo's deal was negotiated by the William Morris Agency and Jason Sloane of Hansen, Jacobson, Teller & Hoberman. He is managed by 3 Arts Entertainment.
