(AllHipHop News) Antoine Fuqua is reportedly planning to develop a biopic about Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton after signing a first-look deal with bosses at Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.
Chris Smith has written a script based on Jeffrey Haas’ book “The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther,” and, according to Deadline.com, Fuqua is hoping to adapt the screenplay.
Hampton was the head of the Illinois chapter of the controversial American revolutionary party and the deputy chairman of the national organization.
He was killed in 1969 while he slept during a joint raid by the Chicago Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). His death was later ruled a justifiable homicide.
“I started my feature film career almost 20 years ago at Columbia,” Fuqua says, announcing the deal on Thursday (May 4). “Since then some of my biggest career achievements have been with the studio. I am proud of our work together and am very much looking forward to this new collaboration and our upcoming creative endeavors.”
Fuqua is also gearing up to film the sequel to “The Equalizer” with Denzel Washington.
The movie begins production in the autumn and is set for release next year. It is the first sequel for the filmmaker and Denzel.
“He is the definition of a modern filmmaker who has mastered the mix of visual dramatic storytelling and strong characters,” Columbia Pictures president Sanford Panitch says. “He makes films that are meant to be seen in movie theaters. We couldn’t be happier to work with him next on ‘The Equalizer 2’ – the first sequel that either he or Denzel has ever made.”