TERRENCE HOWARD - HUSTLE + FLOW DUO TEAM UP FOR PRIDE PICTURE

HUSTLE + FLOW DUO TEAM UP FOR PRIDE PICTURE

TERRENCE HOWARD and his HUSTLE + FLOW director CRAIG BREWER are moving from rap to country to bring the story of singer CHARLEY PRIDE to the big screen. As JOAQUIN PHOENIX did in WALK THE LINE, Howard will sing the country icon's songs and play guitar in the drama. Pride was born in Mississippi to sharecroppers and played in baseball's Negro League before joining the Army. After his discharge he worked in construction and continued to play minor league baseball. After moving to Nashville, Tennessee, Pride became a country music sensation - between 1966 and 1984, 51 of his 54 singles cracked the country top 10. Although Pride achieved success during the civil rights movement, black Americans did not celebrate him and he struggled with the knowledge that many of his fans were white and racist. According to Brewer, "When (baseball player) JACKIE ROBINSON broke the barrier, there was a flood of talent that came after him, but Charley was alone." The film will also explore Pride's relationship with his wife ROZENE, whose savvy financial skills and real estate investments made the couple extremely wealthy.