Spike Lee, who has long had love for Chicago (more particularly, The Jumpman and his legacy there) caught a bit of heat a few months back when he announced that he had began production on the musical dramedy Chiraq. And though many were worried about how the film may may unfold, given the seemingly lighthearted narrative that was detailed in the film's tackling gang violence in one of the nation's most embattled cities, Lee's assured his fans that though the plot may seem a bit light, the film itself and its handling would be anything but, taking its structure from the old Greek play Lysistrata (no love from the ladies 'til the war is done.) And today, it seems that the already high-profile roster of talent has been upped a notch or two, as comedic unicorn Dave Chappelle has joined the cast (already comprised Jennifer Hudson, Samuel L. Jackson and Common) along with Wesley Snipesand John Cusack. While no details have been offered as to what roles any of these talents will play in the film, one thing is certain; that Uncle Spike is churning up a potent brew of comedic excellence for a film that he hopes will help lay guns down across the country, not just in Chi-town. There's still plenty of work to be done, but we're certainly glad to see Spike adding some muscle to the cast of a film that will likely be a must-see no matter how light. Stay tuned for all of the updates in the months to come.

h/t Indiewire