It has been almost 28 years since the theatrical release of Mario Van Peebles’ New Jack City, and now Deadline brings word that Warner Bros. Pictures is in the process of developing a reboot of the 1991 action gangster film. Snowfall alum Malcolm M. Mays is attached to pen the script.
Mays is best known for his role as Kevin Hamilton in FX’s crime drama series. His notable film credits include the 2013 drama Life of a King opposite Cuba Gooding Jr.; and the sports drama Southpaw starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams.
Further details about the remake’s plot and characters are still being kept under wraps. It will be produced by A Star Is Born‘s Bill Gerber along with the original film’s producer Doug McHenry.
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The original New Jack City movie was made up of a star-studded cast led by Wesley Snipes, Chris Rock, Ice-T, Allen Payne, Judd Nelson and actor-director Van Peebles. Snipes played the role of Nino Brown, a rising drug lord during the ’80s crack epidemic in New York City. The 1991 film follows detective Scotty Appleton, portrayed by Ice-T, who wants to avenge his mother’s death that was caused by Nino Brown. He tries to stop the drug ring by going undercover as a member of Nino’s gang called the Cash Money Brothers.
