Rapper Nicki Minaj will co-star in New Line/MGM’s “Barbershop 3″ alongside Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer, Variety has learned.
Bob Teitel and George Tillman Jr. of State Street Pictures are the lead producers. Malcolm D. Lee, who directed the “Best Man” movies, is directing “Barbershop 3″ from a script by Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver.
Minaj will play Draya, the sassy new hairdresser of the beauty shop portion of the barbershop. She made her first screen appearance last year in “The Other Woman,” portraying the assistant to Cameron Diaz’s character.
The original 2002 film, directed by Tim Story and set in Chicago, starred Ice Cube and Anthony Anderson. The 2004 sequel “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” featured the same cast, with Kevin Rodney Sullivan directing.
The two “Barbershop” films combined for about $140 million in worldwide box office. Regina Hall, Eve and Common are also starring in “Barbershop 3.”
Minaj is repped by the Blueprint Group and WikkedCat.
Congratulations to Nicki Minaj. After watching her on Saturday Night Live I have no doubt that she will bring professionalism and great acting skills to Barbershop 3. I was a bit skeptical when I heard she was being considered to play Storm for Marvel’s Xmen Days of Future’s Past because she would have been ridiculed and it could have tarnished any prospective role ahead for her. Her role in The Other Woman was extremely short, but her presence on the big screen was definitely interesting. I hope to see more of her on the big screen and directors cast her in more dominant, leading roles.
I hope this leads to even better roles. Nicki is a hidden gem of an actress, with comedy timing second to none.