Common
Fox Searchlight has tapped rapper-turned-actor Common ("Terminator Salvation") as the lead opposite Queen Latifah in sports romancer "Just Wright," with Sanaa Hamri directing.
Paula Patton ("Deja Vu," "Precious") has also been cast.
Latifah, Shakim Compere and Debra Martin Chase are producing. Shooting starts in mid-July in New York for a release next year.
Script, penned by Michael Elliot, revolves around a sports trainer who finds herself falling in love with a professional basketball player while rehabilitating him from a career-threatening injury.
Common began his rap career in the early 1990s, won two Grammys and moved into films several years ago with parts in "Smokin' Aces," "Wanted" and "American Gangster." He's shooting "Date Night" with Steve Carell and Tina Fey; Shawn Levy directs.
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com