_____ as a goat

First Mr. Kotter says Ice Cube ‘perfect’ for role
Gabe Kaplan thinks rapper good choice for ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ film

Updated: 6:41 p.m. ET March 16, 2006
NEW YORK - Former “Welcome Back, Kotter” creator-star Gabe Kaplan says rapper-actor Ice Cube is a great choice to play his old role in the big-screen remake of the hit 1970s TV series.

In an interview that was to air Thursday, Kaplan tells “Access Hollywood” he thinks Ice Cube “is the perfect guy... He has shown what kind of crossover appeal he has.”

In the TV original, Kaplan portrayed compassionate teacher Gabe Kotter, who returns to his former Brooklyn high school to teach a new generation of troublemakers, including John Travolta’s Vinnie Barbarino.

That formula will be updated in Ice Cube’s version, which Kaplan feels “will totally be acceptable. I think that the setting is going to be in South Central L.A. He is going to be just like how I was in Brooklyn.”

Besides starring as the young teacher, Ice Cube, 36, will also produce the movie, Bob Weinstein, co-president of The Weinstein Company, said in a statement earlier this week. No other casting or release date has been announced.

When “Access” asks about his ideal cast, Kaplan, 60, jokes, “Well, I think Snoop Dogg will play Horshack, Vanilla Ice would play Barbarino... I don’t know.”

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