The first and only film Eminem starred in is "8 Mile," and he was supposed to play the lead role in the Jake Gyllenhaal starrer "Southpaw" but he turned it down. His second film is likely to involve two-time Academy Award winner Ron Howard and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Danny DeVito, according to the "Rap God" rapper's former bodyguard Byron "Big Naz" Williams.
In an interview with "Murder Master Music Show," Big Naz revealed that the upcoming Eminem movie involving Howard and DeVito will be based on the book titled "Shady Bizzness: Life as Marshall Mathers' Body guard in an Industry of Paper Gangsters." The former bodyguard wrote the book, which documents the time he spent with Eminem.
"I'm waiting for the ink to be signed," Big Naz said. "And this is the closest that I have ever been."
Big Naz pointed out that not many people are aware that he has had DeVito, who is set to star in "The Comedian" with Robert De Niro, reach out to him and Howard. The former bodyguard went on to claim that "8 Mile" was supposed to be about his "Shady Bizzness" book.
Directed by Curtis Hanson, "8 Mile" hit theaters on Nov. 8, 2002. The screenplay was written by Scott Silver, who received an Academy Award nomination in 2011 for the original screenplay of "The Fighter" starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams.
Among Eminem's co-stars in "8 Mile" are the late Brittany Murphy, the late De'Angelo Wilson and the late Proof. They played Alex, DJ Iz and Lil' Tic, respectively.
Eminem's character in the musical drama film is named Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith. His other co-stars were Kim Basinger, Taryn Manning, Michael Shannon, Anthony Mackie, Malik Barnhardt, Mekhi Phifer, Evan Jones, Oman Benson Miller, Eugene Byrd, Larry Hudson, Mike Bell, Chloe Greenfield, Allen Adams, Obie Trice and Xzibit.
Listen to Big Naz on the "Murder Master Music Show" interview here: