Confirmed details about who is the cast of Spike Lee’s “Chiraq” have been few and far between, but the director himself dropped a major hint late Wednesday.
“The Great David Chapelle Is All Aboard Da CHA-RAQ Peace Train,” he wrote in a post on Twitter and Instagram, accompanied by a photo of Lee and the comedian together on what appears to be a set dressed to look like a strip club (red curtain, iconic pole, neon sign) called “Love Daddy’s Playground.” (Pro tip: Do not Google the name of this fictitious venue; the results are … not good.)
My colleague Luis Gomez reports that filming took place at the South Loop nightclub The Shrine on Wednesday, per the venue’s owner Joseph Russo.
It’s not clear why Lee has been so tight-lipped about seemingly mundane information (such as casting or anything regarding the storyline or the film’s genre) only to turn around and provide his own “leak” about Chappelle.
The cast also includes Nick Cannon (who it appears is playing a rapper), Wesley Snipes and John Cusack, the latter of whom I have heard is playing a character based on St. Sabina pastor Rev. Michael Pfleger. Another rumor: D.B. Sweeney has been cast as the Chicago mayor. Jennifer Hudson’s name has been in the mix as well.
Last night Lee also posted a photo of his two teenage children, who look to be involved behind-the-scenes, both carrying cameras: “The Lee Family Filmmakers On Set Of CHI-RAQ.”
As I noted earlier this week, Lee has been spelling the title of his film with a hyphen: “CHI-RAQ.” Possibly an effort to make the pronunciation clearer to those outside the city who may be unfamiliar with the term? We still do not know if this is a working title or the one he’s sticking with.
Filming began Monday and is expected to continue through July 10.
nmetz@tribpub.com
@NinaMetzNews
