Xzibit is in final negotiations to join Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the Columbia Pictures drama “Gridiron Gang.” The rapper-turned-actor will play Malcolm, the assistant coach of the team in the film, which is formed by a probation officer portrayed by Johnson.
The players overcome huge obstacles, gain self-esteem and discipline and, in one season, go from brawling beginners to contenders for a division title. Jeff Maguire wrote the screenplay for the film, inspired by a 1993 documentary. Phil Joanou, who directed the 1988 U2 documentary “Rattle and Hum,” will direct. Filming is scheduled to begin at the end of May at Camp Kilpatrick, a juvenile detention facility in the Santa Monica (Calif.) Mountains.
Xzibit will next be seen in “XXX: State of the Union” with Ice Cube, Samuel L. Jackson and Willem Defoe, and “Derailed” with Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston and RZA. His past credits include “8 Mile” and “The Chronicles of Riddick.” He also hosts the popular MTV series “Pimp My Ride.”