According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures is moving forward with the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, and has hired Jonathan Herman to pen the latest draft of the film's script.

The studio has tapped Herman to handle the script of the film, that will chronicle the iconic rap group's rise to fame. THR also reports that F. Gary Gray is slated to direct the film, which has been in development for years.

In recent years Herman has become a script-writing savior of sorts. He most recently was hired to rewrite the psychological thriller Demonologists for Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers, wrote an untitled hacker film that Mark Wahlberg is co-producing, and also wrote a draft of Universal's remake of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

Straight Outta Compton will be produced by Ice Cube with his Cube Vision partner Matt Alvarez, with additional production by Dr. Dre's Crucial Films and Eazy-E’s widow, Tomica Woods.

Considered one of the most influential acts in hip hop and the trail-blazers of the gangsta rap genre, N.W.A. became known for their hard-hitting lyrics about life in inner city Los Angeles.

Founded in 1986, the group was assembled by Eazy E, and featured original members Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre,Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. MC Ren would join the group in 1988. However, in-fighting would lead to the departure of a few members and the disbandment of the group: Arabian Prince left in late 1988, Ice Cube left in December of 1989 over royalty disputes, followed by Dr. Dre in 1991. Eazy-E died in 1995 due to AIDS-related causes.

A release date for the film is still unknown.