Paul Giamatti to Star as Rap Group Manager in STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON Biopic

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paul Giamatti will star in Universal's biopic STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON as Jerry Heller, the manager of the rap group N.W.A. F. Gary Gray directs. The film is scheduled to hit the big screen next August.

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STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON "chronicles how five young men channeled their experiences growing up in Compton into brutally honest music".

Before he became involved with N.W.A., Heller had worked with artists from Journey to REO Speedwagon, plus Elton John and Pink Floyd on tour. He co-founded Ruthless Records with Easy-E in 1986, soon signing N.W.A. He came under fire for mishandling funds in promoting the group, thus resulting (in some people's opinion) in N.W.A.'s break-up after Ice Cube and Dr. Dre severed ties.

Among the producers are N.W.A.'s Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, alongside Matt Alvarez and Tomica Woods-Wright. Will Packer and Scott Bernstein are executive producers.

Ice Cube's son O'Shea Jackson Jr. is playing his father; Jason Mitchell will portray Easy-E, and Corey Hawkins will take on the role of Dr. Dre.

Among Giamatti's upcoming big screen projects are Love & Mercy, Madame Bovary, The Little Prince and The Phenom. His recent film credits include The Amazing Spider-Man 2, River of Fundament, Saving Mr. Banks, Romeo & Juliet, 12 Years a Slave, Rock of Ages, and more. The actor last appeared on Broadway in The Iceman Cometh, for which he won a Drama Desk Award in 1999, The Three Sisters, Racing Demon, and Arcadia.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride