With the popularity of the recently finished American Crime Story TV mini-series, it seems that there is a renewed interest in all things related to the infamous OJ Simpson trial. That may or may not be what is fueling movement on the Untitled Johnnie Cochram Film project that actor Anthony Mackie has just signed on to star in.
Mackie is also set to produce the film alongside partners Jason Spire and Robbie Brenner. Screenwriter David McMillan only has two previous credits, both in television. But one of them is an episode of Lucifer which I think was the high point of the show’s freshman season, so I take that as a good sign.
According to the Tracking Board –
The film follows Cochran’s pre-O.J. Simpson career when he worked an advocate for African Americans suffering from police brutality. Specifically, it will focus on the landmark Signal Hill case which involved Ron Settles, a Cal State Long Beach football star, who was arrested for speeding and later found hanging in his cell. Police reports deemed it a suicide, but an autopsy report showed that he was choked to death.
There is no director attached to the film yet and no studio has stepped forward to distribute, so it is very much in development. But it has piqued our interest enough that we will be keeping an eye on it as it slowly works its way towards the big screen.
