Mos Def, Gabrielle Union in 'Cadillac'

(FROM VARIETY) – Mos Def has been cast as Chuck Berry in writer-director Darnell Martin's Cadillac Records. Gabrielle Union (Ugly Betty) has also been added to the cast as Geneva Wade, the girlfriend/wife of Muddy Waters, who is being played by Jeffrey Wright. The Sony BMG Films 1950s period film is about the seminal Chicago record label Chess Records and its founder, Leonard Chess, who started out selling albums out of his Cadillac. Berry, Etta James, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf are among the legends who recorded on the label. Adrien Brody has already been cast as Chess, and Cedric the Entertainer (Willie Dixon), Columbus Short (Little Walter), and Beyonce Knowles (who is portraying James, recording four songs for the soundtrack, as well as producing the project) are also on board. Shooting is already underway for an anticipated 2009 release. Mos Def's upcoming projects include Keep Coming Back and Next Day Air. Union next stars with Eddie Murphy in Meet Dave, which releases in July. (Variety)