Former drug kingpin “Freeway” Ricky Ross has teamed with Emmy Award winning actor and writer Nick Cassavetes, who will help produce and write a screenplay based on Ross’ life.
Ross and Cassavetes are working in conjunction with the Geno Taylor and Apocalypto Films to write and produce the screenplay to Ross’ life.
The untitled, autobiographical film will reveal the truth about his Los Angeles upbringing, his struggle to become financially literate, his time behind bars and his journey to becoming educated.
“I love working with Nick, I think he’s great I love his films,” Rick Ross told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “He and I really vibed the first time we met and I think he truly understands the story. Not only has he been following my life for 25 years but he’s also someone I can kick it with!”
Cassavetes is known for directing such critically acclaimed films as The Notebook (2004), Alpha Dog (2006), and My Sister’s Keeper (2009).
According to Cassavetes, his vision for the film seeks to expose the pitfalls of the African American dream in contemporary society.
“Freeway Ricky Ross is a living American legend. A modern day street genius. To not know his story is to not understand our country – how it works, what it needs, and what it will do to get it,” Cassavetes told AllHipHop.com. “From his modest Los Angeles beginnings to his meteoric rise to the top of the drug world, Rick’s ‘hustle’ was unparalleled in modern history…but when that government was done with him, it locked him up and left him as the fall guy responsible for the destruction of an entire community.”
Ross served over 20 years in prison for his role in distributing hundreds of kilos throughout Los Angeles during the 1980’s.
Ross presided over a drug empire that stretched from California to Ohio, in addition to grossing millions of dollars per week in illegal proceeds.
At present time there was no release date available for Ross’ untitled autobiographical film.
Ross is currently traveling with his non profit organization The Freeway Foundation and speaking to children across the United States about their future aspirations and the perils of drug use and the dangers of being involved with gangs.