The James Brown biopic has finally been greenlit, now that a roster of stars are reportedly interested in playing the lead roles, including The Help stars Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis.
According to Variety, the film is set up at Universal and Imagine Entertainment. The producers include Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins and The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger. The singer, whose music was influenced by the Godfather of Soul, is producing with Victoria Pearman through their Jagged Films banner. The executive producers are Trish Hofmann and Peter Afterman and the screenwriters are Jez and John Henry Butterworth.
Playing James Brown will be Chadwick Boseman, who impressed in 42, playing Jackie Robinson. Now that Boseman is on board, the long-gestating project can get moving.
Tate Taylor, who directed The Help, is expected to helm the untitled film.
Sources for TheWrap say that Taylor is looking to have a Help reunion on the set with Spencer and Davis, who were both nominated for Oscars for that hit 2011 film. Nelsan Ellis, who was also in The Help, is also in talks.
The site notes that none of the Help actresses have received offers and none of their reps would comment.
Brown is considered one of the most influential singers of all time and died in 2006 at age 73. The film will chronicle his rise from poverty to stardom.
image: Wikipedia Commons
