Back in 2017, actor/writer/director James Franco dramatised a bizarre behind the scenes story in The Disaster Artist. The movie focused on the hapless Tommy Wiseau's efforts to direct The Room, which went on to become one of the most mocked films in cinema history.
And it seems that Franco's brother Dave, who co-starred in The Disaster Artist, has been inspired by that sense of underdog spirit. Because, Insider confirms, the Franco sibling is set to play Vanilla Ice (aka Rob Van Winkle) in a biopic called To The Extreme. The movie is named after Vanilla Ice's 1990 album of the same name.
Can't recall much about Vanilla Ice beyond the familiar 'Ice ice baby' refrain? You're not the only one. That said, the aforementioned album sold 15 million units at the time, although it wasn't enough to prevent Van Winkle's eventual slide into anonymity. Like The Disaster Artist, Franco says that the movie won't take sneering pot-shots at the subject, but will instead take a sincere look at the perils of following one's dream.
"With that movie, people expected us to make a broad comedy where we make fun of Tommy, but the more real we played it, the funnier and heartfelt it was," Franco says. "That's the tone we want for this one as well."
Franco says that Van Winkle is fully onboard with the project: "Rob is such a sweet and intelligent guy and he's been super helpful in the process of getting all the details correct and making us privy to information the public doesn't know. Just talking to him I can't help but think about the rabbit holes I'm going to go down to get ready for the role."
No release date has been confirmed yet, but stay posted. Will we be getting a surreal and amusing biopic to rival the likes of The Disaster Artist? Let us know your thoughts @Cineworld.
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