Ever since rapper/actor/TV superstar Nick Cannon revealed his involvement in a biopic on tennis legend Arthur Ashe to us last January, we've been wanting to follow-up with him post-Sundance, to ask how that backhand swing's looking. Well, we ran into him recently and finally got an update on the in-development flick to be produced by Cannon's longtime acting idol, Will Smith.
"Yeah, we're still in the process of making the Arthur Ashe film," Cannon beamed. "It's going down."
A prominent African-American tennis player in the 1960s, Ashe died after contracting HIV from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. His claim to three Grand Slam titles - and his eventual loss to AIDS - helped bring attention to issues concerning the illness around the globe.
"[These] types of films take a while to get prepared," explained Cannon, who said previously that the script deals with Ashe's tennis heyday and stops short of exploring his final years.
Although he's currently busy with "Wild 'N Out" and upcoming films like "Day of the Dead", Cannon did reveal that he plans to start shooting the Ashe film sometime in 2008. "We're looking to start up on that next year."
The flick already has its leading man, and Cannon is currently hard at work perfecting his tennis game. The next step, he revealed, is for him and Smith to choose a director. "Not yet," he said when asked if he knew who'd be behind the camera. "That's what we're looking for!"
Flashing his trademark grin, Cannon said goodbye while issuing a request. "Put the word out there," he begged. "We need a director for Arthur Ashe!"
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