Spike Lee 'Wants Kanye West For Amazon Film'

Amazon Studios has reportedly signed a deal with Spike Lee to produce his next film which could star Samuel L Jackson and Kanye West.

Sources have told TheWrap the Oscar-nominated director is in talks with a number of actors for his new film, which is called Chiraq.

Little is known about the film but the title is thought to be a blend of Chicago's name and Iraq to reference the escalation in violent crime the US city has seen in recent years.

West is from Chicago, and other natives of the city, rapper Common and actor Jeremy Piven, are also thought to be among the stars being approached for roles.

Piven has a busy schedule at the moment because he is filming a new series of Mr Selfridge.

Jackson, who has worked with Lee on Do The Right Thing and Jungle Fever, is expected to have a cameo in Chiraq.

He is currently filming Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight and stars in Avengers: Age Of Ultron which hits cinemas on 23 April.

If Chiraq goes ahead it will mark a major coup for Amazon Studios which announced in January that Woody Allen was on board to make an original series for the streaming service.