Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Before Richard Roundtree was Gabrielle Union‘s father on “Being Mary Jane,” he was our first Black kickass superhero simply known as SHAFT. It was the first time Hollywood had ever shown an African-American private detective that was as smooth as he was deadly and the role broke many racial barriers on film screens around the world in 1971. With a dope theme song, written and performed by BlackMoses aka Isaac Hayes, “Shaft” would become one of the most iconic figures of the 70s Blaxploitation film era.
Roundtree would eventually go on to make two more films—“Shaft’s Big Score” in 1972 and “Shaft in Africa” in 1973 and served as an international symbol of Black power, pride, sexuality and masculinity. He was Black and macho and audiences ate it up like a bowl of collard greens and cornbread. The film was also directed by famed photographer and eclectic filmmaker Gordon Parks.
Fast forward to 2000 and “Shaft” was resurrected thanks to director John Singleton and award winning-actor Samuel L. Jackson. He starred as the nephew of the legendary John Shaft along with the amazing Jeffrey Wright as the Dominican drug lord—Peoples Hernandez.
Well it looks like award winning-director Tim Story is teaming up with New Line to bring Shaft back to the big screen with an updated storyline. According to DEADLINE, a remake is in the works that will be scripted by ‘black-ish” creator Kenya Barris. The film will also focus on “the son of the cool private eye who always finds himself navigating the gray terrain between the law and organized crime in New York City.”
No word yet on who Story has in mind to play Shaft, so I’ve provided at least 10 actors who I think cool pull this off. Let me know your thoughts below…Id’ love to hear from you.
#1 MAHERSHALA ALI
#2 IDRIS ELBA
#3 MORRIS CHESTNUT
#4 LYRIQ BENT
#5 ANTHONY MACKIE
#6 LARENZ TATE
#7 DEREK LUKE
#8 LAMMAN RUCKER
#9 LANCE GROSS
#10 DB WOODSIDE
