"Hollywood has fallen for White Boy Rick," writes Rebecca Ford of The Hollywood Reporter.
She reports on a third film project based on convicted Detroit drug dealer Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr., who's in a northern Michigan prison.
The latest version in development is produced by Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin's Protozoa Pictures, and is based on a script by Andrew Weiss.
There are two other White Boy Rick films in development: Universal optioned article The Trials of White Boy Rick, with Oblivion director Joseph Kosinski attached to direct, late last year, and Studio 8 acquired a spec script by Logan and Noah Miller in February.
But it looks like Aronofsky and Franklin's project has a big advantage: Wershe has decided to cooperate exclusively with Protozoa's project.
"I am pleased that Protozoa has taken such an interest in my life and my continued incarceration," Wershe told THR in a statement. "I am confident that they possess the talent, conviction and fortitude to accurately tell my life’s events.
Wershe, 45, was arrested when he was 17. He was sentenced to life in prison and has been fighting to get paroled. He's at the Oaks Correctional Facility in Manistee.
The "Free Richard Wershe Jr." Facebook page, which has nearly 3,000 followers, posts:
Rick has chosen the team from Protozoa Pictures to tell *his* story. Not only are the makers of this film in the best position to get Rick's story right but they've always been outspoken about wanting to see Rick released from prison.
While talk of movies may sound exciting the focus should remain on seeing Rick get out of prison as soon as possible. After 27 years, there is nothing entertaining about Rick spending day after day locked in a cage.
