Mos Def To Star In "Jackie Brown" Prequel

There's a prequel in the works for Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown," but it's not from the acclaimed filmmaker. Variety reports that writer-director Dan Schechter is working on an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel "The Switch," the predecessor to the novel "Jackie Brown" is based on, "Rum Punch." According to the industry trade, John Hawkes - who gave a lauded performance in Sundance fave "The Surrogate" - and Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) are attached to star. The story takes place about 15 years before "Jackie Brown," and Hawkes and Bey will portray younger versions of criminal characters Louis Gara and Ordell Robbie. In "Jackie Brown," Gara was played by Robert De Niro, with Samuel L. Jackson portraying Robbie."Switch" follows the outlaw duo as they plot to kidnap the wife of a corrupt Detroit real estate developer, but when the crooked husband doesn't cough up the ransom, the kidnapped wife works with the two to get revenge. Production on "Switch" is scheduled to start in May.