Matthew McConaughey is in talks to join White Boy Rick, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Yann Demange is directing the indie drug-trade drama from a script by Logan and Noah Miller. It is based on the true story of Richard Wershe, Jr., the white teenager who became a drug kingpin of the African-American-dominated Detroit in the 1980s. At age 17, he received a mandatory life sentence upon being caught with 17 pounds of cocaine. Studio 8 bought the script last year.
McConaughey would play Wershe’s father, a salesman. Producers are planning to begin production in March in Michigan and Ohio.
John Lesher is producing through his LBI Entertainment, which has a first-look deal with Studio 8. Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin also will produce through their Protozoa Pictures company. Jon Silk from Studio 8 brought in the project and is overseeing.
McConaughey will next be seen in the animated Sing, due out Dec. 21, as well as the adventure film Gold and The Dark Tower.
He is repped by CAA.