Oprah Winfrey and Chris Rock to ask: 'Will You Be My Black Friend?'

Chris Rock

Credit: AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatick

Having already teamed up to help promote the upcoming drama "Precious: Based on a Novel by Sapphire," Lionsgate and none other than Oprah Winfrey are staying in business.  Variety reports the mini-lion and Winfrey's Harpo Films have acquired the rights to make a big screen version of the 2008 GQ Magazine piece "Will You Be My Black Friend?" for Chris Rock to star in.

The scenario centers on GQ writer David Friedman's first hand account of trying to make more friends of color after realizing his entire social circle was white.  In order to solve the problem Friedman made numerous attempts to find new non-caucasian friends including a Craigslist ad.  The story ends with the journalist realizing no matter what your race it's very hard to make true friends later in life.

Winfrey's Harpo Films has spent most of its creative energies on TV projects such as "Tuesday's With Morrie" and "Their Eyes Were Watching God."  The company's feature films have been rare with "Beloved" (over a decade ago) and Denzel Washington's "The Great Debaters" the only two pictures to hit the big screen so far. This new development may signal Winfrey's interest in spending more time in the theatrical world as a producer.

After taking some time off after his solid performing "I Think I Love My Wife" two years ago, Rock has been very active lately. He's produced and will star in the ensemble comedy "Death at a Funeral" with Zoe Saldana, James Marsden and Martin Lawrence and reunited with old "SNL" buddy Adam Sandler for the event comedy "Grown Ups."  Both flicks will be released next year.  His Sundance Film Festival documentary "Good Hair" opens Friday.