EXCLUSIVE: Omar Epps (Power Book III: Raising Kanan), rappers Wiz Khalifa and Quavo, and Chukwudi Iwuji (The Day Of The Jackal) have been set to star in gangland drama Moses The Black, with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his G-Unit Film and Television on board as executive producers.
Pic is a story about a gangster in modern day Chicago, inspired by the repentance story of the fifth-century saint of the same name. Epps plays Chicago gang leader and lead character Malik, with Khalifa as 2wo-3ree, the confident and volatile leader of Malik’s young crew. It marks the Grammy nominated rapper’s second movie role and his first as one of the leads. Quavo plays Straw, Malik’s arch-nemesis. The title character, St. Moses the Black, is played by Iwuji. Principal photography is slated for later this spring in Chicago.
Written and directed by Yelena Popovic (Man of God), producers on the film include Alexandros Potter and Popovic for Simeon Faith. Khalifa is executive-producing through his Taylor Gang Films, while Epps is also serving as an executive producer through his production company BrooklynWorks Films.
Simeon Faith is financing alongside the Nick Mirkopoulos Cinematic Fund, backed by the former owners of Cinespace Film Studios—the Pissios family of Chicago and the Mirkopoulos family of Toronto—who also serve as executive producers on the film.
Former IM Global executive Potter and writer-director-producer Popovic recently launched Simeon Faith, an equity film fund focused on financing and producing. The fund is backed by a network of cinephiles and investors, including the Pissios and the Mirkopoulos families, through the Nick Mirkopoulos Cinematic Fund. Moses The Black is the first film scheduled to go into production for the fund.
Simeon Faith is managed by Potter and Popovic’s production company, Simeon Entertainment, which investment banker and entrepreneur John Kynigopoulos has a direct minority stake in and also serves as executive producer on the company’s projects. Simeon Entertainment is currently casting Lost Weekend, a buddy comedy based on a true John Lennon story directed by comedy auteur Frank Coraci (Wedding Singer). Freeway Entertainment Group is providing escrow and revenue sharing solutions to the fund and its film investments.
Florence Larsonneur is President Business Affairs for Simeon Faith and repped the company in all deals.
“I’m excited to be a part of Moses the Black as an executive producer. Collaborating with great talent ensures we’re bringing authentic and compelling stories to the screen. Yelena’s vision for this film is sure to create a hit,” said Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
“Yelena Popovic is an immensely impactful storyteller, and I’m looking forward to bringing “Moses the Black” to life alongside this incredibly talented group of artists,” added Epps.
“I’m excited to be working with Yelena and alongside Omar, Quavo and Chukwudi on Moses The Black. As an actor and executive producer on the project, I can’t wait to start shooting and for all my fans to see the film!” commented Khalifa.
Rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is creator and executive producer behind the Power Universe, as well as hit series like BMF and Hip-Hop Homicides. He also serves as executive producer of the Den of Thieves sequel.
Juice star Epps is well-known for his long-running role as Dr. Eric Foreman on the hit TV series House and his most recent role as Detective Malcolm Howard on Power Book III: Raising Kanan.
Grammy nominee Khalifa is well known for his collaboration with Charlie Puth on See You Again, a tribute to actor Paul Walker, and his soundtrack titles on Furious 7, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Suicide Squad and Vampire Academy. He made his feature debut playing George Clinton in the feature Spinning Gold.
Rapper Quavo, known as a member of the hip-hop trio Migos, has made appearances in the movie Praise This and the FX series Atlanta. He’s also featured in Black-ish and voiced a character in Star: Trek Lower Decks.
Nigerian-Brit Chukwudi Iwuji, a stage and screen actor, is known for The High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3., HBO series Peacemaker and the thriller John Wick: Chapter 2. Most recently he co-starred alongside Eddie Redmayne in the Peacock/Sky hit series Day of the Jackal.
Epps is represented by IAG, Untitled Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson. Khalifa is repped by Taylor Gang Films and Pryor Cashman. Quavo is repped by UTA and Artist Collective Entertainment. Iwuji is repped by WME, Conway van Gelder Grant, Authentic Talent and Literary and Granderson Des Rochers. Jackson is repped by IAG, AKR Public Relations and Attorney Stephen J. Savva.
