Jack Harlow, the rapper behind hits like What’s Poppin and Industry Baby with Lil Nas X, will star in his first feature film. The Grammy-nominated performer will lead a White Men Can’t Jump remake coming from 20th Century Studios.
Deadline reports that White Men Can’t Jump will be directed by Charles Kidd II, professionally known as Calmatic. He’ll helm the film based on a script by Kenya Barris and Doug Hall. Barris and his Khalabo Ink Society banner are producing while Blake Griffin, Ryan Kalil and Noah Weinstein are executive producing under their banner Mortal Media.
1992’s White Man Can’t Jump starred Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, launching Harrelson to a movie career and further cementing Snipes as a movie star in his early career.
The original plot follows Billy Hoyle (Harrelson), a white basketball hustler who banks on black players underestimating his skills on the court. When he pulls one over on Sidney Deane (Snipes), his victim sees a lucrative opportunity, and they become partners in the con game, plying their trade across the courts of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Billy has to keep one step ahead of mobsters, to whom he owes money while staying on the good side of his “Jeopardy!”-obsessed, motormouth wife (Rosie Perez).
After “immediately winning over the filmmakers and execs, particularly Barris,” Jack Harlow landed the role. He recently made a big splash during the NBA All-Star Weekend’s Celebrity Game, showing he can hold his own on the court.
Deadline notes that 20th Century Studios is looking to find Harlow’s co-star quickly and fast-track the project into production.
Originally published March 4, 2022. Updated April 15, 2022.
