T.I. has signed on to be in a new murder mystery that involves the Flint, Michigan, water crisis.
In the upcoming film, which is simply called “Flint,” Tip will play an ex-convict who’s found a new spiritual path, one who at the same time finds himself smack dab in the middle of a whodunit.
Will Smith spearheaded the project though his production company Overbrook Entertainment, and T.I. will also play an executive producer role via his company Grand Hustle Films.
John Singleton, who passed away in April after suffering a stroke, is also listed as a producer, and, according to Deadline, he was a big part of getting the project greenlit.
T.I. shared news of the film Wednesday on Instagram, and based on his words he considers it a social cause.
Tip’s news came the day before a dramatic development in the ongoing crisis. In 2014 Flint residents were exposed to lead in their drinking water after a switch in the city’s water supply, a crisis that would focus the spotlight on state officials. Locals were eventually told to only use drinking water that was either bottled or filtered, and a number of officials were brought up on criminal charges. On Thursday all criminal charges against eight criminal defendants suddenly were dropped by state prosecutors, who said the years-long investigation would have to start over from scratch.
“Super Excited about this one!!! FLINT….We coming to do our part!!!,” wrote Tip the day before the disheartening development for those who wanted justice for victims of the crisis.
After Tip’s post, some of the Flint residents thanked the rapper and actor for being in the movie.
“Thank u for coming to my city to promote more awareness & shed more light on a horrendous situation,” one of his followers wrote on Instagram.
“Shed the positive in this city. And the daily struggle all my babies (students) face!!!! It’s a real life problem!!!!!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🤣,” someone else commented.
The last time Tip appeared on the big screen was in 2018’s Disney-Marvel collaboration “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” and before that he appeared with Rosario Dawson in the movie “Krystal.”
Next, he’ll work with Eddie Murphy in “Dolemite Is My Name,” the crime pic “Cut Throat City,” directed by The Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA., and in the action thriller “Monster Hunter” with Meagan Good.
