Release date and first cast photo revealed for Straight Outta Compton biopic

Access Hollywood reports that Straight Outta Compton, the long-in-development N.W.A. biopic, has finally been cast and now has a release date. Ice Cube updated his Twitter followers on the film, even including the first cast photo. On Wednesday, Universal Pictures announced Straight Outta Compton will hit theaters on August 14, 2015. Along with the announcement, ….

Oscar nominee Angela Bassett to direct Whitney Houston biopic

Angela Bassett will make her directorial debut with a Lifetime Original Movie centering on the life of Whitney Houston, according to Variety. The film, which has the working title “Whitney Houston,” is scheduled for a 2015 world premiere. Shem Bitterman wrote the script for Whitney Houston, which chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, ….

Star Trek live concert tour kicks off this May

Star Trek is about to be seen and heard in a brand new way. CBS Consumer Products, Paramount Pictures, 21st Century Symphony Orchestra, IMG Artists and the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency will launch Star Trek: Live in Concert featuring the 2009 Star Trek and 2013 Star Trek Into Darkness films. The events will celebrate the extraordinary collaboration between ….

Chozen creators sponsoring “Dope Rhymez” hip hop music contest for chance at recording deal

To celebrate the series premiere of FX’s new animated comedy series Chozen, the network is sponsoring a contest where aspiring rappers can submit hip hop lyrics for the chance to record their track under the guidance of professionals in a New York City music studio. The “Dope Rhymez” contest ends on January 15th, 2014. Chozen ….

Images from the Sparkle New York City red carpet screening event

Tri-Star Pictures hosted a red carpet screening of the upcoming Sparkle remake at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in Soho. The cast attended the event, including Jordin Sparks, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Derek Luke, Tika Sumpter, Omari Hardwick and executive producer Debra Martin Chase. A slew of celebrities hit the carpet as well, including Russell Simmons, ….

Win a prize pack from the makers of the Bob Marley documentary

To celebrate the release of the groundbreaking documentary Marley, makers of the film are giving away a Marley Prize Pack, including a blu-ray copy of the documentary, Marley headphones, a “One Love” poster, and a pack of Marley coffee. In order to be entered into the random Marley Prize Pack drawing: Visit our Facebook page ….

First poster revealed for Bob Marley documentary

Magnolia Pictures has released the first official poster for the upcoming Bob Marley documentary Marley, which will have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival this month, followed by its North American premiere at SXSW. Magnolia will then release Marley theatrically and on VOD Friday, April 20th. Bob Marley’s universal appeal, impact on music ….

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap getting theatrical release

Producer and distributor The Indomina Group just announced the North America theatrical release date for Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, the Ice-T-directed documentary that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Indomina, an independent distribution house based in The Dominican Republic, released the highly acclaimed Hong Kong epic Detective Dee and The Mystery ….