Cuba Gooding, Jr. To Portray O.J. Simpson, Tika Sumpter As Michelle Obama In Respective New Biopics

Shortly before TV fans can catch Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the Oprah-led historical film ‘Selma’ and BET historical miniseries ‘The Book Of Negroes,’ word has it the Academy Award winner will be taking another page out of history when he portrays football star turned murder defendant OJ Simpson in the new FX film ‘American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.’

Set to kick off production in early 2015, the film’s announcement comes days after another famous African American figure is set to see his story told on the big screen – Barack Obama. In a film titled ‘Southside With You,’ the Obama love story will unfold on the silver screen with ‘The Haves and the Have Nots’ star Tika Sumpter on board to portray Michelle Obama (nee Robinson).

Rumor has it hitmaking rapper Drake is amongst those being considered to play the commander-in-chief. More below:

Via Huffington Post:

“…”Southside With You,” will center on the day young Barack first convinced Michelle to go on the couple’s now-storied first date. No actor has been attached to the role of young Barack Obama, though The Guardian speculated possible stars could include musician Drake, actor Michael B Jordan or even “Saturday Night Live” Obama impersonator Jay Pharoah.

The indie film has a relative unknown in the director’s chair, but it has a double dose of veteran executive producing talent from women of color: Tracey Bing, a former executive from Warner Independent, and Stephanie Allain, the indie producer behind films like “Hustle & Flow” and “Black Snake Moan.”

Via Deadline:

“FX has set Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sarah Paulson for lead roles in American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, the first installment of Ryan Murphy’s new anthology miniseries, an offshoot of his hit American Horror Story FX franchise. Based on the book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson,ACS: The People v. O.J. Simpson is a look at the O.J. Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers…”