Wesley Snipes Mentions Another Hoover Film, 'Blade' and More« FirstShowing.net

Though he's currently dealing with legal troubles with the IRS that could garner a 3-year stint in prison,Wesley Snipesis still looking to get some new projects off the ground. Recently the actor/producer toldDeadlineabout his development of a period drama entitledCode Name Zorro. The story centers J. Edgar Hoover's campaign to discredit Martin Luther King Jr. by way of the titular operation which covertly attempted to subvert King’s influence over the civil rights movement by tarnishing his reputation. There's more on this project, Snipes' comments on continuingBlade, and details on a new family time travel film below.

ForCode Name Zorro, Snipes has been working with MLK's son to gather information about how the iconic civil rights activist was treated by Hoover and his FBI. The project, scripted by Justin Stamm, has the full endorsement of King's family and Snipes says it's"an important project that has my focus."Speaking of focus, though the film's catalyst is Hoover's fear and attempted smearing of MLK, apparently the film will actually follow the final moments in the life of former assistant FBI director William Sullivan, who headed Code Name Zorro and found himself wiretapping King’s phones, and orchestrating such dirty tricks as giving King's wife audiotapes of the civil rights leader's conversations with other women. Sullivan wrote to Hoover after the famous"I have a dream"speech,""We must mark {King} now, if we have not done so before, as the most dangerous Negro of the future in this nation."Pretty intense stuff, right?

However, Deadline is quick to point out the plethora of MLK centric projects developing in the industry right now. Lee Daniels isstill workingonSelma, Steven Spielberg has abiopic in the workswith full support from the estate, and Oprah Winfrey and HBO are developing a 7-hour miniseries based onTaylor Branch's book serieschronicling America's history during King's life. In addition, Clint Eastwood is working on his own J. Edgar Hoover biopic which may overlap some of the same material, even if the focus seems to be on Hoover's balance of work and his supposed secret homosexual romance. Fortunately, if the market gets too crowded, this isn't the only project Snipes is producing.

Today,Varietyreported his Maandi Media Entertainment banner is now producingChronicles of the Mayan Tunnel, an $80 million 3D family action-adventure project based on an unpublished book byRaul Julia-Levy, son of the late actor Raul Julia. The story follows four youngsters sent back in time 1,500 years to the height of the Mayan Empire and Julia-Levy will feature in the film as Yum Kax, a Mayan god of justice. Our heroes have to face-off with the war god Ah Puch, a role reserved for Snipes if his legal entanglements get cleared up in time.

As for going back to hunting vampires, Snipes is a little perturbed about recent rumors suggesting other actors like Idris Elbamight be up for a new take onBlade. Snipes says,"Maybe we get around to doing anotherBlade, except, from what I’m reading, every other actor is talking about playing him, and nobody is talking to Wesley. How strange that they don’t come and talk to me about it.” It's not really that strange considering what we'veheard about his behavioron the set of the Marvel comics franchise, but I digress. Personally, I'd rather see Snipes pursue these new projects and continue finding others instead of returning toBlade.How about you?

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