DETROIT – The film based on the true story of Rick "White Boy" Wershe now has an official release date.
The movie, which stars Matthew McConaughey as Wershe's father, will be released January 12, 2018.
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Newcomer Richie Merritt will star as Wershe, who is the longest serving juvenile drug offender in Michigan history.
Matthew McConaughey is preparing to star as "White Boy" Rick Wershe's father in the upcoming film about the imprisoned Detroit man's life.
READ: The story of White Boy Rick
The accomplished actor is taking the role seriously enough to spend 5 and 1/2 hours this week in the Michigan prison where Wershe is being held. Wershe, who has served 29 years of a life sentence for drug dealing, is hoping this Hollywood movie will help him win his freedom. The 47-year-old was sentenced to prison when he was 17, making him the longest serving juvenile drug offender in the history of Michigan.
"He's just a genuine person and I'm glad that he's the one playing the part of my dad," Wershe said. "We talked about life in general, my family, spending all this time in here, life after getting out of here. It was good, just general conversation. He came up and said he wanted to meet me. I think he's real passionate about the story and he sees the injustice in it."
Filming in Detroit, Cleveland, Las Vegas
The film will start production with locations in Detroit, Cleveland and Las Vegas. It will be set in 1980s Detroit.
The film also features Oscar® nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (“Hateful Eight”) and Rory Cochrane (“Black Mass”) as the FBI agents who begin working with Rick as a confidential informant, and Brian Tyree Henry (FX’s “Atlanta”) as narcotics detective Officer Jackson; two-time Oscar® nominee Bruce Dern (“Nebraska,” “The Hateful Eight”) as Rick’s grandfather, Ray Wershe; three-time Oscar® nominee Piper Laurie (“Carrie,” “Children of a Lesser God”) as Rick’s grandmother, Verna Wershe; BAFTA nominee Bel Powley (“Diary of a Teenage Girl”) as Rick’s sister, Dawn; Jonathan Majors (“Hostiles”) as Johnny Curry; Rapper YG (“Blame It on the Streets”) as Leo Curry; RJ Cyler (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”) as Rudell Curry; Taylour Paige (VH1’s “Hit the Floor”) as Cathy Volsan; and Kyanna Simone Simpson (“Fist Fight”) as Brenda.