Oscar-winner Crowe to star in Camberwell director’s thriller
BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
Andrew Onwubolu was still spending his lunch money on crisps when Gladiator star Russell Crowe was earning tens of millions of pounds as the biggest film star on the planet.
But now the former Camberwell schoolboy – better known as Rapman – has announced the Aussie Oscar-winner is the lead in his next Paramount thriller.
Deptford rapper, writer and director Mr Onwubolu has announced the star of Les Miserables, Robin Hood and LA Confidential is the first confirmed cast member for his upcoming movie – American Son.
Rapman is best known for his viral three-part YouTube series – Shiro’s Story.
He made his directorial debut last year with BBC Films’ co-financed and developed movie Blue Story.
American Son is based on Oscar-nominated 2009 French movie – A Prophet, that follows a young Arab man that is sent to a French prison.
It centres around a prisoner, who, after falling under the control of a ruthless mobster, builds a multiracial crime syndicate, takes down his mentor, and earns a place for his crew alongside the Italian and Russian mafias.
Rapman has made clear his love of action movies. Before he rose to fame, the Fast and Furious fan sang the praises of the Neal H Moritz, produced franchise on his social media and counted down the days till the release of his latest movie.
In 2013 the rapper/director Tweeted: “Seven days b4 Fast & Furious 6 comes out. I will be 1st in line for that.
“Fast & Furious 6 is da best one so far it was bloody epic. I don’t even know what to say it was too much! Go watch that.”
Seven years later, American Son will mark Rapman’s first directing gig at a major studio.
And the prolific producer of the car-action franchise – an executive at Paramount Pictures – is producing the thriller, through his Original Film banner.
Dennis Lehane, American author of the critically acclaimed movie adaptations of Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone and Shutter Island, wrote the upcoming movie’s screenplay.
A release date is yet to be announced but Rapman has confirmed a date for filming the new movie has been set.
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