Rapper and busy, busy actor Ice Cube has been tapped to play Scrooge, the angry miser who hates Christmas, in "Humbug" -- an upcoming movie theater production of the classic holiday show.
Universal Pictures won a bidding war to produce the modern remake of "A Christmas Carol," and Ice Cube will play the starring role,
Deadline Hollywood reported this week.
The spec script by writers Todd R. Jones and Earl Richey Jones netted a deal in the high six figures or low seven figures, the entertainment publication said. The two originally had a deal at Relativity, but as that company filed bankruptcy, the picture went back on the market.
Ice Cube, aka O'Shea Jackson, may "crack the eight-figure salary mark" on this film, Deadline said. He's just wrapped up "Ride Along 2" and is filming "Barbershop 3," both due out in 2016,
IMDb said.
Ice Cube will have the opportunity to translate his cold name into the frozen heart that Scrooge is famous for as he sets out to work with "Humbug" director Tim Story. The two collaborated on "Ride Along 2,"
Rolling Stone said, and worked in 2002 on "Barbershop."
The news of Cube's new role fit his icy glare perfectly, many online tweeted:
"They had me at Ebenezer Cube," young adult author Lamar Giles wrote on
Facebook. "This movie DEMANDS to be seen." He then proceeded to cast the film with other rappers and actors from other Cube movies. His pick for Jacob Marley – Chris Tucker in a dreadlock wig.
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