What is Columbia Pictures White Boy Rick?
Columbia Pictures' "White Boy Rick" is a true story based on the life of Richard Wershe Jr., also known as "White Boy Rick." Set in Detroit during the 1980s, the film follows the story of a teenager who became an undercover informant for the FBI and eventually ended up finding himself in the crosshairs of the law.
"White Boy Rick" depicts an authentic portrayal of the gritty streets of Detroit and the harsh reality of the drug underworld. Matthew McConaughey stars as Richard Wershe Sr., a man with a hustler mentality, who put his 14-year-old son (played by newcomer Richie Merritt) to work as a drug dealer. When Wershe Jr. was caught after trying to sell illegal firearms, the FBI recruited him as an informant, promising to help him and his family in return for his cooperation. However, the situation quickly spiraled out of control and the young teenager found himself abandoned and left to face the consequences of his actions alone.
As the story unfolds, we see the rise and fall of White Boy Rick as he tries to navigate through the dangerous waters of the drug trade while also trying to maintain his relationships with family and friends. Along the way, he is forced to confront the harsh realities of the criminal justice system, race relations, and the challenges faced by those living in inner-city communities.
"White Boy Rick" is a thought-provoking film that explores a multitude of complex themes and issues. It is a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to better understand and support those who are most vulnerable in our society.
Frequently Asked Questions about columbia pictures white boy rick
(born July 18, 1969), known as "White Boy Rick", is an American former drug trafficker and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informant. The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old.
Set in 1980s Detroit at the height of the crack epidemic and the War on Drugs, WHITE BOY RICK is based on the moving story of a blue-collar father and his teenage son, Rick Wershe Jr., who became an undercover police informant and later a drug dealer, before he was abandoned by his handlers.
At 17 years old, he was busted for selling eight kilos of cocaine and went to prison on a life sentence. In 2017, the Local 4 Defenders shined a spotlight on Wershe's case and stirred national interest in what many people saw as injustice. Wershe had spent nearly 30 years in prison when he was finally granted parole.
Richard Wershe, Jr., dubbed “White Boy Rick” by news media and a 2018 Matthew McConaughey film loosely fictionalizing his life, alleges that FBI agent Jim Dixon recruited him at age 14 after his sister started dating a drug dealer and his father called the FBI.
The orders arrived from a now-deceased city official, the hitman alleged. Wershe had reportedly implicated the official in a coverup involving the drive-by murder of a 13-year-old. “I was told to kill White Boy Rick. We heard that he was telling, so they said, 'We got to kill that White boy,'” Craft told filmmakers.
White Boy Rick (2018)
| REEL FACE: | REAL FACE: |
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| Richie Merritt Born: abt 2001 Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, USA | Richard Wershe Jr. Born: July 18, 1969 Birthplace: Michigan, USA |
| Matthew McConaughey Born: November 4, 1969 Birthplace: Uvalde, Texas, USA | Richard Wershe Sr. Death: October 2, 2014, Macomb, Michigan, USA (cancer) |
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Official page of Richard Wershe Jr. A.K.A White Boy Rick. Follow: @the8thbywhiteboyrick.
Prisoner of War: The Story of White Boy Rick and the War on Drugs: Wade, Vince: 9780692995709: Amazon.com: Books.
2.9 crores USDWhite Boy Rick / Budget
White Boy Rick premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2018, and was released in the United States on September 14, 2018, by Sony Pictures Releasing. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $25 million, $4 million short of its $29 million budget.
The film is loosely based on the story of Richard Wershe Jr., who in the 1980s became the youngest FBI informant ever at the age of 14. Richard Wershe Jr.
In 1987, Ricky goes back to selling crack and assumes the role that Johnny left behind, even going so far as having sex with his wife, Cathy. Rick discovers he has earned more than enough money to make his father's dream of opening up a video store come true.
What was the Curry Trafficking Ring? The Detroit drug trafficking ring was led by brothers, Johnny and Leo Curry. They mainly trafficked marijuana and cocaine from 1979 to 1987 and were being investigated by the FBI for their drug-related activities.
First Appearance. Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr. is a guest starring character on the Starz original crime drama BMF. He is portrayed by Eminem.
Darlene McCormickRichard Wershe Jr. / Mother
Richard WilliamsRichard Wershe Jr. / Children
Watch White Boy Rick | Prime Video.
