In Michael Mann's 2001 biopic "Ali," Jamie Foxx played Drew Bundini Brown, Muhammad Ali's assistant trainer. Brown was, as the film depicted him, a little crass, openly lascivious (he confesses his particular fetishes in public), and not always up to living the way Ali would have liked him to. In one notable scene, Ali (Will Smith) bursts into Brown's dingy apartment and finds him hungover. Ali screams at the man to respect himself.
Mann is a filmmaker fond of shaky, handheld camera moves, was an early proponent of digital photography, and seeks a certain kind of steely, assertive realism in his work. This was an exhilarating approach for a high-profile Hollywood biography like "Ali," a film that was nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards.
It's worth noting that Mann and his three credited "Ali" co-screenwriters, Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump") and writing duo Stephen J. Rivele...
Mann is a filmmaker fond of shaky, handheld camera moves, was an early proponent of digital photography, and seeks a certain kind of steely, assertive realism in his work. This was an exhilarating approach for a high-profile Hollywood biography like "Ali," a film that was nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards.
It's worth noting that Mann and his three credited "Ali" co-screenwriters, Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump") and writing duo Stephen J. Rivele...
- 5/3/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Ang Lee's new sci-fi film has a massive cadre of screenwriters attached to it including Billy Ray, Jonathan Hensleigh, Andrew Niccol (Gattaca), Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, and David Benioff (Game of Thrones). It is from an original concept created by Darren Lemke.
The thriller stars Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong, Linda Emond, Ralph Brown, and Theodora Miranne.
Synopsis:
Henry Brogen (Will Smith) is an aging assassin attempting to exit his career who finds himself going against a younger clone of himself who can predict his every move.
Gemini Man hits theaters October 11, 2019.
The thriller stars Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong, Linda Emond, Ralph Brown, and Theodora Miranne.
Synopsis:
Henry Brogen (Will Smith) is an aging assassin attempting to exit his career who finds himself going against a younger clone of himself who can predict his every move.
Gemini Man hits theaters October 11, 2019.
- 4/23/2019
- QuietEarth.us
Stars: Billy Magnussen, Philip Ng, Xia Yu, Qu Jingjing, Jin Xing, Simon Yin, Van Ness Wu, Ron Yuan, Terry Chen | Written by Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson | Directed by George Nolfi
Directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau), this account of a life-changing real-life fight between kung fu superstar-in-waiting Bruce Lee and martial arts grandmaster Wong Jack Man is less a of biopic and more of a fictionalisation based on a true story. Taken on those terms, it’s a lot of fun, though it’s likely to frustrate Bruce Lee aficionados looking for a more faithful approach.
The story begins in San Francisco in 1964, where a not-yet-famous Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) is teaching martial arts and focusing on becoming a superstar. When Shaolin monk Wong Jack Man (Xia Yu) arrives in San Francisco, Lee is rattled by his presence and challenges him to a duel, believing that the martial...
Directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau), this account of a life-changing real-life fight between kung fu superstar-in-waiting Bruce Lee and martial arts grandmaster Wong Jack Man is less a of biopic and more of a fictionalisation based on a true story. Taken on those terms, it’s a lot of fun, though it’s likely to frustrate Bruce Lee aficionados looking for a more faithful approach.
The story begins in San Francisco in 1964, where a not-yet-famous Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) is teaching martial arts and focusing on becoming a superstar. When Shaolin monk Wong Jack Man (Xia Yu) arrives in San Francisco, Lee is rattled by his presence and challenges him to a duel, believing that the martial...
- 6/5/2018
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Stars: Billy Magnussen, Philip Ng, Xia Yu, Qu Jingjing, Jin Xing, Simon Yin, Van Ness Wu, Ron Yuan, Terry Chen | Written by Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson | Directed by George Nolfi
Directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau), this account of a life-changing real-life fight between kung fu superstar-in-waiting Bruce Lee and martial arts grandmaster Wong Jack Man is less a of biopic and more of a fictionalisation based on a true story. Taken on those terms, it’s a lot of fun, though it’s likely to frustrate Bruce Lee aficionados looking for a more faithful approach.
The story begins in San Francisco in 1964, where a not-yet-famous Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) is teaching martial arts and focusing on becoming a superstar. When Shaolin monk Wong Jack Man (Xia Yu) arrives in San Francisco, Lee is rattled by his presence and challenges him to a duel, believing that the martial...
Directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau), this account of a life-changing real-life fight between kung fu superstar-in-waiting Bruce Lee and martial arts grandmaster Wong Jack Man is less a of biopic and more of a fictionalisation based on a true story. Taken on those terms, it’s a lot of fun, though it’s likely to frustrate Bruce Lee aficionados looking for a more faithful approach.
The story begins in San Francisco in 1964, where a not-yet-famous Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) is teaching martial arts and focusing on becoming a superstar. When Shaolin monk Wong Jack Man (Xia Yu) arrives in San Francisco, Lee is rattled by his presence and challenges him to a duel, believing that the martial...
- 2/24/2018
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Author: Euan Franklin
Biopics never have a firm grasp on the truth, and any reasonably intelligent moviegoer understands this. Often, it’s obvious (merely by watching) what’s fact and what’s fantasy and it doesn’t hinder our enjoyment. In George Nolfi’s Birth of the Dragon, facts are kicked into the dirt of gangster-ridden Chinatown.
Set nine years before the release of Enter the Dragon, a young Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) is a martial-arts teacher (known as a sifu) in San Francisco. He is performative and egotistical, eager to introduce kung-fu to the Western world. But when Wong Jack Man (Xiu Yu) arrives in San Francisco, as penance for a sin committed in China, he threatens Lee’s aspirations – believing kung-fu shouldn’t be taught to Westerners. This builds to the famous (real) fight between the two of them – the results from which remain ambiguous.
The fantasies of...
Biopics never have a firm grasp on the truth, and any reasonably intelligent moviegoer understands this. Often, it’s obvious (merely by watching) what’s fact and what’s fantasy and it doesn’t hinder our enjoyment. In George Nolfi’s Birth of the Dragon, facts are kicked into the dirt of gangster-ridden Chinatown.
Set nine years before the release of Enter the Dragon, a young Bruce Lee (Philip Ng) is a martial-arts teacher (known as a sifu) in San Francisco. He is performative and egotistical, eager to introduce kung-fu to the Western world. But when Wong Jack Man (Xiu Yu) arrives in San Francisco, as penance for a sin committed in China, he threatens Lee’s aspirations – believing kung-fu shouldn’t be taught to Westerners. This builds to the famous (real) fight between the two of them – the results from which remain ambiguous.
The fantasies of...
- 2/21/2018
- by Euan Franklin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The first trailer has been released for the new Bruce Lee biopic, Birth of the Dragon. I've been a Bruce Lee fanatic since I was a kid and the only biopic we've really had was the 1993 movie Dragon. Now we have this film and it looks pretty good. The trailer didn't blow me away, but I'll watch it.
The film centers around the story behind the legendary 1960s fight between Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and a young Bruce Lee. I don't know if you're familiar with this story or not but it's pretty crazy and there's a lot of controversy surrounding it. Here's the synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of 1960s San Francisco, Birth Of The Dragon is a modern take on the classic movies that Bruce Lee was known for. It takes its inspiration from the epic and still controversial showdown between an up-and-coming Bruce Lee and kung...
The film centers around the story behind the legendary 1960s fight between Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and a young Bruce Lee. I don't know if you're familiar with this story or not but it's pretty crazy and there's a lot of controversy surrounding it. Here's the synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of 1960s San Francisco, Birth Of The Dragon is a modern take on the classic movies that Bruce Lee was known for. It takes its inspiration from the epic and still controversial showdown between an up-and-coming Bruce Lee and kung...
- 7/18/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The History Channel is Developing a New Anthology Series About U.S. Presidents Called The Commanders
If you're a history buff like I am, or if you're just interested in learning more about U.S. Presidents of the past, you're gonna want to watch this new series that The History Channel is developing. It's called The Commanders, and it's an anthology series that "will dramatize the biggest moments in American history and those that served as commander-in-chief."
The limited series is said to range from four to ten hours long and it will focus on presidents including Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson. According to THR, History Channel is also internally developing projects on George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower.
The stories that the network plans on telling come from a collection of books that they have optioned including The Breach: Inside the Impeachment and Trial of William Jefferson Clinton by Peter Baker, Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris, Thomas Jefferson...
The limited series is said to range from four to ten hours long and it will focus on presidents including Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson. According to THR, History Channel is also internally developing projects on George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower.
The stories that the network plans on telling come from a collection of books that they have optioned including The Breach: Inside the Impeachment and Trial of William Jefferson Clinton by Peter Baker, Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris, Thomas Jefferson...
- 3/26/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Promo trailer is now online (via Deadline) for Birth of the Dragon starring Billy Magnussen, Xia Yu, Philip Ng, Jinging Qu, and Xing Jing.
Set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown, this cross-cultural film chronicles Bruce Lee’s emergence as a martial-arts superstar after his legendary secret showdown with fellow martial artist Wong Jack Man.
It's amazing to think of what Bruce Lee accomplished — and when. Years before martial arts action became a staple of Hollywood and global cinema, and years before Asian-Americans became a strong demographic presence in California, Bruce Lee brought the majesty and discipline of centuries-old combat to America, and added a little showmanship of his own. It wasn't easy.
In 1960s Oakland, a hotbed of hippie counterculture and radical politics, young Bruce Lee (Philip Wan-Lung Ng) does some radical cultural work of his own, teaching a martial arts style he himself developed. The Bay...
Set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown, this cross-cultural film chronicles Bruce Lee’s emergence as a martial-arts superstar after his legendary secret showdown with fellow martial artist Wong Jack Man.
It's amazing to think of what Bruce Lee accomplished — and when. Years before martial arts action became a staple of Hollywood and global cinema, and years before Asian-Americans became a strong demographic presence in California, Bruce Lee brought the majesty and discipline of centuries-old combat to America, and added a little showmanship of his own. It wasn't easy.
In 1960s Oakland, a hotbed of hippie counterculture and radical politics, young Bruce Lee (Philip Wan-Lung Ng) does some radical cultural work of his own, teaching a martial arts style he himself developed. The Bay...
- 9/15/2016
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Twenty years ago today, the world lost one of its strongest voices, Tupac Shakur. To commemorate the anniversary of his death, after an initial teaser, a second red band teaser has been unveiled for his biopic All Eyez On Me. Helmed by Benny Boom (an incredible director name, if I may say so), Eyez is a chronicling of the life and music of one of the most seminal rappers ever to touch the mic.
Newcomer Demetrius Shipp stars as Tupac (and looks an uncanny amount like the late rapper), who grows up seeing a life of police brutality and violence in his neighborhood, and decides to fight back through his music — as well as telling his story by “painting a picture with a pen.” Check out the new teaser below, along with the first poster.
All Eyez On Me, originally titled Tupac, is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Benny Boom,...
Newcomer Demetrius Shipp stars as Tupac (and looks an uncanny amount like the late rapper), who grows up seeing a life of police brutality and violence in his neighborhood, and decides to fight back through his music — as well as telling his story by “painting a picture with a pen.” Check out the new teaser below, along with the first poster.
All Eyez On Me, originally titled Tupac, is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Benny Boom,...
- 9/13/2016
- by Mike Mazzanti
- The Film Stage
In naming our favorite boxing movies last fall, we said, “Michael Mann‘s epic portrait of Muhammad Ali marvelously depicts the champ and the cultural upheaval surrounding his storied and controversial career,” adding that, “Ali is a thoughtful and aesthetically flawless picture, which succeeds in conveying the harrowing emotions the People’s Champion felt inside and outside of the ring.” Following the passing of the legendary boxer last weekend, Sony has announced the film will be returning to a few hundred theaters this weekend. While we lament some aspects of digital distribution, consider this a check in the positive column.
“When we made Ali, Will Smith dedicated a year to become Ali. No director ever had a better, more stand-up partner,” Mann tells Variety in a recent guest column. “In the early days, in one of my meetings with Ali, he said one of the most important concerns to him...
“When we made Ali, Will Smith dedicated a year to become Ali. No director ever had a better, more stand-up partner,” Mann tells Variety in a recent guest column. “In the early days, in one of my meetings with Ali, he said one of the most important concerns to him...
- 6/8/2016
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
A fantasy about Miles Davis’s life and music; loose, free-flowing, a kind of cinematic jazz. An astonishingly assured directorial debut from Don Cheadle. I’m “biast” (pro): love Don Cheadle
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Don’t call it jazz… it’s social music.” Miles Davis really did say that about his work. But he didn’t say it to Rolling Stone journalist Dave Braden, because Dave Braden doesn’t exist. Though one may readily imagine that the real Miles Davis would have been just as testy with journalists as the Miles we see onscreen in Miles Ahead is with the fictional Braden. It’s a testiness — and an accompanying desire to craft his own story to his own liking, to tell his story his own way — that informs everything about this ingeniously seductive film.
We could say,...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Don’t call it jazz… it’s social music.” Miles Davis really did say that about his work. But he didn’t say it to Rolling Stone journalist Dave Braden, because Dave Braden doesn’t exist. Though one may readily imagine that the real Miles Davis would have been just as testy with journalists as the Miles we see onscreen in Miles Ahead is with the fictional Braden. It’s a testiness — and an accompanying desire to craft his own story to his own liking, to tell his story his own way — that informs everything about this ingeniously seductive film.
We could say,...
- 4/22/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Last year at the New York Film Festival, I saw the fest wrap up with the directorial debut of actor Don Cheadle. It was the biopic Miles Ahead, a passion project of Cheadle’s that he’d been trying to get off the ground for years. It played at the Closing Night selection and had some awards buzz surrounding it, but no 2015 release date. Well, that turned out to mean something, as it never came out, opting instead for this early 2016 slot. Part of that might be due to the middling reviews at the time, but mostly it was just a function of studios having other priorities and this being an odd little title. It’s hitting theaters this week though, so it’s time to discuss it a bit more now. Once again, here’s a quick primer on the film itself, which of course is a look at...
- 3/30/2016
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Taking on the starring role for a biopic of any kind comes packing its own share of expectations, particularly when it comes to stepping into the shoes of an icon from beyond our time. But for Avengers star Don Cheadle, he was deemed the perfect fit to assume the role of jazz legend Miles Davis long before the biopic ever came to form, after gaining the blessing of Davis’ nephew Vince Wilburn almost a decade ago.
Fast forward to today and we’ve arrived at the first trailer for Miles Ahead. Written and directed by Cheadle, the musical biopic represents something of a passion project for the actor, who recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly about bringing Davis’ story to the moviegoing masses.
“Just the fact that he wasn’t playing. The fact that he hadn’t played for five years, up to that point, and in a way, was either...
Fast forward to today and we’ve arrived at the first trailer for Miles Ahead. Written and directed by Cheadle, the musical biopic represents something of a passion project for the actor, who recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly about bringing Davis’ story to the moviegoing masses.
“Just the fact that he wasn’t playing. The fact that he hadn’t played for five years, up to that point, and in a way, was either...
- 2/2/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
It's pretty clear where I got the first name of my first son, Toshiro, and he's well aware of the legacy of the artist who inspired that name. While he hasn't seen Seven Samurai yet, he knows who Toshiro Mifune was and that he is an actor I hold in very high regard. What's less immediately clear is that my younger son is also named after one of my artistic heroes, because it's his middle name. He is Allen Miles McWeeny, and sure enough, he is named after one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, a towering figure whose music has meant more to me than I can ever fully express. Don Cheadle must share some of that same reverence for Miles Davis, and it's certainly clear from his new film as a star and as a writer/director that he embraces the full complexity of Miles, flaws and all.
- 1/24/2016
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
A new Bruce Lee movie started shooting yesterday, and it was announced that Philip Ng (New Police Story, Bodyguards and Assassins) will be taking on the role of the legendary martial artist.
The story is set in the mid-1960s and focuses on the fight between Lee and Wong Jack Man. The story is told from the point of view of one of Lee’s students, Steve McKee, who is being played by Billy Magnussen. After the fight, Lee reinvented himself and his fighting style of kung fu.
Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man will be played by Yu Xia, and the rest of the cast includes Jinging Qu as McKee’s love interest and Jin Xing as a crime boss.
The film is being directed by George Nolfi from a script written by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele, who have worked on films such as Ali and Nixon. The...
The story is set in the mid-1960s and focuses on the fight between Lee and Wong Jack Man. The story is told from the point of view of one of Lee’s students, Steve McKee, who is being played by Billy Magnussen. After the fight, Lee reinvented himself and his fighting style of kung fu.
Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man will be played by Yu Xia, and the rest of the cast includes Jinging Qu as McKee’s love interest and Jin Xing as a crime boss.
The film is being directed by George Nolfi from a script written by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele, who have worked on films such as Ali and Nixon. The...
- 11/18/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Hong Kong-born Philip Ng will be playing the young Bruce Lee in Birth Of The Dragon, according to The Wrap.
The film will be directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau) from a screenplay written by Academy Award nominees Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele, which follows the the story behind the legendary 1960s fight between Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and the young Bruce Lee.
Nolfia said:
“Birth Of The Dragon is a rare opportunity to make an action film with rich characters based on real events and real people. It’s a story about people from the East and West transcending their differences to work together, which is obviously a very timely story.”
The fight scene in question I believe was in the film "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story," which you can see the film clip below.
The site reports that the film will recreate the mid-1960’s...
The film will be directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau) from a screenplay written by Academy Award nominees Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele, which follows the the story behind the legendary 1960s fight between Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and the young Bruce Lee.
Nolfia said:
“Birth Of The Dragon is a rare opportunity to make an action film with rich characters based on real events and real people. It’s a story about people from the East and West transcending their differences to work together, which is obviously a very timely story.”
The fight scene in question I believe was in the film "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story," which you can see the film clip below.
The site reports that the film will recreate the mid-1960’s...
- 11/16/2015
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Billy Magnussen (Into The Woods), Philip Ng (Once Upon A Time in Shanghai) and Yu Xia (The Painted Veil) are toplining Groundswell Productions’ Birth Of The Dragon, the pic about the legendary 1965 fight between Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and a young Bruce Lee. Production gets underway tomorrow in Vancouver with George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau) directing a script by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele. This is the origin story pic originally picked up by Mich…...
- 11/16/2015
- Deadline
Philip Ng will portray Bruce Lee in the George Nolfi-directed martial arts action movie "Birth of the Dragon" for Groundswell Productions and Kylin Films. Filming begins Tuesday in Vancouver.
The film recreates the mid-1960’s fight between Lee and Wong Jack Man from the point of view of McKee. After the fight, Lee reinvented himself and his style of kung fu which led to his worldwide fame.
Yu Xia will play Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and Billy Magnussen will portray martial arts student Steve McKee. Jinging Qu plays the love interest of McKee’s character and Jin Xing will portray a crime boss.
"Ali" and "Nixon" scribes Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele penned the script, while action sequences will be designed by martial arts choreographer Corey Yuen.
Source: Variety...
The film recreates the mid-1960’s fight between Lee and Wong Jack Man from the point of view of McKee. After the fight, Lee reinvented himself and his style of kung fu which led to his worldwide fame.
Yu Xia will play Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and Billy Magnussen will portray martial arts student Steve McKee. Jinging Qu plays the love interest of McKee’s character and Jin Xing will portray a crime boss.
"Ali" and "Nixon" scribes Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele penned the script, while action sequences will be designed by martial arts choreographer Corey Yuen.
Source: Variety...
- 11/16/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Principal photography is set to kick off on November 17 in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the Bruce Lee story.
George Nolfi will direct the martial arts action tale that tells the story behind the legendary 1960s fight between Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and the young Bruce Lee.
The film recreates the mid-1960’s fight between Lee and Wong. While the outcome of the fight remains the subject of debate, the contest launched Lee on the path to global superstardom.
Billy Magnussen will play Steve McKee, a young student of martial arts who follows the events closely. Chinese actor Yu Xia will play Man and Hong Kong-born Philip Ng will play Lee.
Chinese actress Jinging Qu plays Magnussen’s love interest, Xiulan. Rounding out the key cast is Chinese TV host Jin Xing as crime boss Auntie Blossom.
Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele co-wrote the screenplay.
Kylin Films is financing Birth Of The Dragon and the producers...
George Nolfi will direct the martial arts action tale that tells the story behind the legendary 1960s fight between Shaolin Master Wong Jack Man and the young Bruce Lee.
The film recreates the mid-1960’s fight between Lee and Wong. While the outcome of the fight remains the subject of debate, the contest launched Lee on the path to global superstardom.
Billy Magnussen will play Steve McKee, a young student of martial arts who follows the events closely. Chinese actor Yu Xia will play Man and Hong Kong-born Philip Ng will play Lee.
Chinese actress Jinging Qu plays Magnussen’s love interest, Xiulan. Rounding out the key cast is Chinese TV host Jin Xing as crime boss Auntie Blossom.
Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele co-wrote the screenplay.
Kylin Films is financing Birth Of The Dragon and the producers...
- 11/16/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Over the weekend, the 53rd annual New York Film Festival came to a close with the World Premiere screening of Don Cheadle’s long brewing passion project Miles Ahead. This biopic of jazz musician Miles Davis has been in the works forever (with Cheadle as the star, co-writer, and director), so expectations were quite high for this one, which Nyff debuted as their 2015 Closing Night selection. A potential Academy Award player, either this year or next (more on that below), this was one of the bigger debuts in a while. Is it an Oscar contender or a pretender? Something in between, perhaps? Well, why don’t we find out below right now? Here’s a quick primer on the film itself, which of course is a look at a moment in time for legend Miles Davis. Cheadle plays Davis mostly during a period in which he had receded from public...
- 10/12/2015
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
A smart, intelligent and fascinating movie in every way, director Ed Zwick’s Pawn Sacrifice makes all the right moves in this intensely watchable, sort-of biopic of the great chess grand master Bobby Fischer. But thanks to Zwick’s precise direction and camera work, and a taut script from Steven Knight (with story credit to Knight, Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson), this doesn’t play like a typical Hollywood biopic at all, but rather a snapshot in time that…...
- 9/14/2015
- Deadline
Last week, the 2015 New York Film Festival gave us potentially another piece of the awards season puzzle when they announced their Closing Night selection for the fest. In a bit of a surprise, it’s Don Cheadle’s directorial debut Miles Ahead, a biopic about musician Miles Davis. Cheadle co-wrote the screenplay and stars as Davis as well, making this not just a passion project of his, but the sort of film that Academy members can sometimes really gravitate to. The fact that Nyff put it in the super prestigious Closing Night spot only makes it more of a movie we really need to pay attention to… Getting to be the closer at Nyff is a big deal for a flick. Unless this year is an anomaly, it more or less launches you straight into the heart of the Oscar race. Over the past 15 years, almost nothing in this slot...
- 7/27/2015
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Marco Polo
Hayden Christensen is set to star in filmmaker Rob Cohen's fantasy-action thriller "Marco Polo" at Paramount Pictures, China Film Group, Yuehua Entertainment, Huahua Film & Media Culture, and Phoenix Entertainment.
Christensen would play the Venetian merchant who embarked on a 24-year journey into China in the 13th century. This would mark the actor's first U.S. studio film since 2010's "Takers". [Source: Heat Vision]
Nine Lives
Robbie Amell ("The Flash") is in negotiations to join Kevin Spacey in Barry Sonnenfeld‘s high-concept comedy “Nine Lives” at EuropaCorp. Daniel Antoniazzi and Ben Shiffrin wrote the script.
Spacey plays a workaholic businessman who suffers a terrible accident that leaves him trapped in the body of the family cat. Christopher Walker and Malina Weissman co-star. [Source: The Wrap]
Ferrari
Robert De Niro is reportedly aboard to play Italian racer/engineer Enzo Ferrari in a biopic entitled "Ferrari". Clint Eastwood is reportedly interested in directing, provisional on a...
Hayden Christensen is set to star in filmmaker Rob Cohen's fantasy-action thriller "Marco Polo" at Paramount Pictures, China Film Group, Yuehua Entertainment, Huahua Film & Media Culture, and Phoenix Entertainment.
Christensen would play the Venetian merchant who embarked on a 24-year journey into China in the 13th century. This would mark the actor's first U.S. studio film since 2010's "Takers". [Source: Heat Vision]
Nine Lives
Robbie Amell ("The Flash") is in negotiations to join Kevin Spacey in Barry Sonnenfeld‘s high-concept comedy “Nine Lives” at EuropaCorp. Daniel Antoniazzi and Ben Shiffrin wrote the script.
Spacey plays a workaholic businessman who suffers a terrible accident that leaves him trapped in the body of the family cat. Christopher Walker and Malina Weissman co-star. [Source: The Wrap]
Ferrari
Robert De Niro is reportedly aboard to play Italian racer/engineer Enzo Ferrari in a biopic entitled "Ferrari". Clint Eastwood is reportedly interested in directing, provisional on a...
- 4/10/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Toronto — It’s quite remarkable that up until now there has never been a biopic on the life of Bobby Fischer, arguably the greatest chess player of the 20th Century. Yes, his name was used in the acclaimed 1993 film “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” but that referenced his potential successor. Fisher’s life and his greatest moment, a dramatic match against his Russian counterpart, are finally depicted in the new drama “Pawn Sacrifice,” which screened at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Fisher’s genius as a chess player first manifested at the age of 12 and by 13 he had become the youngest winner of the U.S. Junior Chess Championships. He enjoyed a spectacular rise as a master chess player and by 1957 he won the first of eight U.S. Championships (a competition he never lost). The world stage, on the other hand, was different. Rising to prominence at the height of the Cold War,...
- 9/12/2014
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
Behold: Don Cheadle Is Miles Davis. The dapper actor who earned an Oscar nod for his portrayal of a noble hero in Hotel Rwanda; titillates and terrorizes in House of Lies; and kicked some serious bad guy ass in Iron Man 3 is now preparing to play one of the coolest American musicians ever in Miles Ahead. And the pic above is our first look. EW shared this pic, which has Cheadle posing with head bowed and a trumpet engraved with the name of Miles Ahead's hero, the one and only Miles Davis. Cheadle is making his directorial debut on the biopic that is now in production, sharing his schedule with Avengers: Age of Ultron, which demanded he reprise his role as Colonel James "War Machine/Iron Patriot" Rhodes. Cheadle also contributed to the screenplay, which he co-wrote with Steven Baigelman (Feeling Minnesota), Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson...
- 7/7/2014
- cinemablend.com
Most Academy Awards hand out five nominations apiece. Some awards only hand out three; a few years ago, the Academy opened up the Best Picture race to like a million nominees. But the specific number doesn’t really matter. Most races inevitably come down to some kind of face-off between two nominees: Frontrunner vs. Dark Horse, Beloved Veteran vs. Dynamic Newcomer, Megahit vs. Beloved Smaller Film, Dark Tale Of The Modern World vs. Sentimental Nostalgia Bait.
Each year, though there are races that defy any easy binary rendering. These are the categories that stacked almost too high with talent. Sometimes that’s clear right away,...
Each year, though there are races that defy any easy binary rendering. These are the categories that stacked almost too high with talent. Sometimes that’s clear right away,...
- 1/16/2014
- by Darren Franich
- EW.com - PopWatch
Ewan McGregor and Zoe Saldana are reportedly in talks to join the Miles Davis biopic "Kill The Trumpet Player". The project will be sold around at this year's Afm.
Don Cheadle is set to make his feature directorial debut on the film from a script by "Nixon" scribes Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson.
Cheadle will star as the pioneering jazz trumpeter, while Herbie Hancock is on board as executive producer and musical supervisor.
Source: Screen Daily...
Don Cheadle is set to make his feature directorial debut on the film from a script by "Nixon" scribes Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson.
Cheadle will star as the pioneering jazz trumpeter, while Herbie Hancock is on board as executive producer and musical supervisor.
Source: Screen Daily...
- 10/28/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Today in history... September 13, 1996... Tupac Shakur died at a Las Vegas hospital at age 25, 6 days after being fatally shot in a driveby shooting that still remains unsolved, despite claims by the Lapd and Tupac's former bodyguard, most recently, that they know who killed him. So will that Tupac biopic that's been in development for a few years, ever happen? Antoine Fuqua's Tupac project, which seemed like it would be made, appears to be in Limbo. As you might recall, it had been greenlit by Morgan Creek Productions, with shooting expected to begin in September 2011, with Oscar-nominated screenwriters Stephen J. Rivele and Chris...
- 9/13/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Although the actor has been attached to the project for some time, Deadline is reporting that Sacha Baron Cohen is dropping out of the planned Freddie Mercury biopic . The site reports that the Borat star's take on what the film should entail is not in line with the remaining members of Queen, who have final approval over both the script and director. The film is being produced by Graham King with Tim Headington, who produced Martin Scorsese's Hugo , also co-starring Cohen, in partnership with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Productions and Queen Films. Peter Morgan wrote the screenplay along with Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson ( Ali ). Baron Cohen starred last year in The Dictator , Les Miserables and, as a voice, in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most...
- 7/22/2013
- Comingsoon.net
And here we go again with new updates on the long-in-development Tupac biopic, which S&A has been closely following over the years. Previously, Antoine Fuqua's Tupac project, which seemed like it would be made, appeared to be dead. As you might recall, it had been greenlit by Morgan Creek Productions, with shooting expected to begin in September 2011, with Oscar-nominated screenwriters Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson (for Ali & Nixon) hired to write the script. The story would have reportedly center on the last day of Tupac's life, and included flashback sequences that showed the previous years...
- 1/19/2013
- by Courtney
- ShadowAndAct
Remember that Freddie Mercury biopic guys? It looks that’s still in the works and that we’ll finally get our chance to watch Sacha Baron Cohen as legendary Queen frontman…but not yet! Apparently, things are moving forward, but no release date before 2014.
On the other hand, at this moment we know the project should start filming this spring. Guess that’s the good news for today.
Let us first remind you that this movie should center on Queen’s early years and conclude with the band’s Live Aid performance in 1985.
Peter Morgan is behind the initial script while Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson have been hired to do the rewrite.
As you probably remember, we previously had some rumor that Stephen Frears will direct the biopic, but now – it looks that’s not going to happen. Who will come on board as a replacement? We’ll have to wait and see.
On the other hand, at this moment we know the project should start filming this spring. Guess that’s the good news for today.
Let us first remind you that this movie should center on Queen’s early years and conclude with the band’s Live Aid performance in 1985.
Peter Morgan is behind the initial script while Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson have been hired to do the rewrite.
As you probably remember, we previously had some rumor that Stephen Frears will direct the biopic, but now – it looks that’s not going to happen. Who will come on board as a replacement? We’ll have to wait and see.
- 10/15/2012
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Earlier this morning, I posted an entry in rememberance of Tupac Shakur's 1996 death (he died on this day, September 13, 1996, at a Las Vegas hospital, at age 25, 6 days after being fatally shot in a driveby shooting that remains unsolved). In that post, I asked wondered whether Antoine Fuqua's Tupac project, which was greenlit by Morgan Creek Productions a couple of years ago, was dead. Oscar-nominated screenwriters Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson (for Ali & Nixon) had been hired to write the script, which would have reportedly centered on the last day of Tupac's life, and...
- 9/13/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Today in history... September 13, 1996... Tupac Shakur died at a Las Vegas hospital at age 25, 6 days after being fatally shot in a driveby shooting that remains unsolved, despite claims by the Lapd and Tupac's former bodyguard, most recently, that they know who killed him. So will that Tupac biopic that's been in development for a few years, ever happen? Antoine Fuqua's Tupac project, which seemed like it would be made, appears to be dead. As you might recall, it had been greenlit by Morgan Creek Productions, with shooting expected to begin in September last year, with Oscar-nominated screenwriters Stephen J. Rivele and Chris...
- 9/13/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Katy Perry is in the mix to play Freddie Mercury’s long-time girlfriend Mary Austin in Gk Films’ biopic of the late Queen frontman, according to a report in The Mirror.
The 27-year-old pop singer has yet to act in a live-action feature film but she has recently started to flirt with movies having voiced Smurfette in the children’s animated movie “The Smurfs”.
Though when you start to delve into The Mirror’s story, it does suggest they are basing the whole report of Perry’s link to the biopic on a quote an unnamed friend said;
“Katy would love to be in the film as she is such a huge fan. She would want to play Mary Austin ideally. Katy has a similar look to Mary and would be a brilliant foil to Sacha.”
And that she once said she was a fan of Queen and snuck into...
The 27-year-old pop singer has yet to act in a live-action feature film but she has recently started to flirt with movies having voiced Smurfette in the children’s animated movie “The Smurfs”.
Though when you start to delve into The Mirror’s story, it does suggest they are basing the whole report of Perry’s link to the biopic on a quote an unnamed friend said;
“Katy would love to be in the film as she is such a huge fan. She would want to play Mary Austin ideally. Katy has a similar look to Mary and would be a brilliant foil to Sacha.”
And that she once said she was a fan of Queen and snuck into...
- 6/11/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
"The Queen" helmer Stephen Frears is the early frontrunner to direct a currently untitled biopic about a different kind of queen - the late, great Freddie Mercury reports Variety.
Gk Films, Tribeca Prods. and Queen Films are producing the project which Sacha Baron Cohen is in talks play the Queen frontman and musical genius famed for his flamboyant stage persona, powerful vocals, and songwriting which included such worldwide hits as "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love" and "We Are the Champions".
The film's story will focus on Queen's formative years up to the band's appearance at Live Aid in 1985. Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson ("Ali," "Nixon") penned the latest draft of the script.
Several other filmmakers remain in contention as negotiations haven't yet begun, but Frears is the favourite right now.
The producers have also scored a music-rights package including some of Queen's biggest hits -...
Gk Films, Tribeca Prods. and Queen Films are producing the project which Sacha Baron Cohen is in talks play the Queen frontman and musical genius famed for his flamboyant stage persona, powerful vocals, and songwriting which included such worldwide hits as "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love" and "We Are the Champions".
The film's story will focus on Queen's formative years up to the band's appearance at Live Aid in 1985. Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson ("Ali," "Nixon") penned the latest draft of the script.
Several other filmmakers remain in contention as negotiations haven't yet begun, but Frears is the favourite right now.
The producers have also scored a music-rights package including some of Queen's biggest hits -...
- 5/10/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Sacha Baron Cohen has been talking about wanting to star in a biopic about Queen frontman Freddie Mercury for years. And now comes word that his "Hugo" producer Graham King has decided to help him make it happen. Variety is reporting that "The Queen" helmer Stephen Frears has emerged as an early frontrunner to direct the new movie, but several other filmmakers remain in the mix. The latest draft of the script comes from the writing team of Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson (Ali, Nixon). Story focuses on Queen's formative years, leading up to the band's heralded appearance at Live Aid in 1985. Mercury died of complications from AIDS in 1991, though the film won't focus on the singer's last days. Producers have already landed a music-rights package that includes Queen's biggest hits, including "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." It's the first time...
- 5/10/2012
- WorstPreviews.com
A long rumored biopic seems to finally be gaining some traction. After an initial announcement nearly two years ago on Sacha Baron Cohen‘s biopic on Queen leader Freddie Mercury, we got an update late last fall that it is still going ahead thanks to producer Graham King, and now we have a new sign of life.
Variety reports a possible director for the project and one who has some Queen experience of a different kind. High Fidelity and The Queen director Stephen Frears is the reported frontrunner for the biopic, although there are others that are still in contention.
Peter Morgan, who previously worked with Frears on his biopic surrounding his majesty, wrote the initial script, but now Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson who also have biopic experience with Ali and Nixon, have taken the latest pass. The film will focus “on Queen’s formative years, leading up...
Variety reports a possible director for the project and one who has some Queen experience of a different kind. High Fidelity and The Queen director Stephen Frears is the reported frontrunner for the biopic, although there are others that are still in contention.
Peter Morgan, who previously worked with Frears on his biopic surrounding his majesty, wrote the initial script, but now Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson who also have biopic experience with Ali and Nixon, have taken the latest pass. The film will focus “on Queen’s formative years, leading up...
- 5/9/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
With “The Dictator” now completed and opening in theaters on May 16th, star Sacha Baron Cohen is ready to move on to his next big project and attention seems to be turning to the much-talked about biopic of charismatic late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
Variety reports that veteran Brit helmer Stephen Frears has emerged as the early favourite to direct the currently untitled, celebratory film that is setup at producer Graham King’s Gk Films. The trade’s sources say that although several other filmmakers are in contention, Fears is the front-runner for the gig and it looks like the man who delivered us “The Queen” is moving to Queen! A fine choice indeed, not least because he is an accomplished filmmaker but also let’s not forget he gave us one of cinema’s biggest ever love letters to music from the p.o.v of those who consume...
Variety reports that veteran Brit helmer Stephen Frears has emerged as the early favourite to direct the currently untitled, celebratory film that is setup at producer Graham King’s Gk Films. The trade’s sources say that although several other filmmakers are in contention, Fears is the front-runner for the gig and it looks like the man who delivered us “The Queen” is moving to Queen! A fine choice indeed, not least because he is an accomplished filmmaker but also let’s not forget he gave us one of cinema’s biggest ever love letters to music from the p.o.v of those who consume...
- 5/9/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
It’s looking more and more plausible that the Tupac Shakur biopic John Singleton took from Antoine Fuqua isn’t happening. As ShowBlitz reports, the man most recently said to take it on has now ended talks with Universal, leaving the Stephen J. Rivele, Chris Wilkinson, and Steve Bagatourian-scripted movie in a tough spot. One point of speculation surrounding his generally vague departure is, quite simply, that the job of finding someone suitable to play the legendary rapper is far too difficult; it’s why Fuqua left in the first place. Unless someone can put their foot down on an actor (not literally), this thing might be dead in the water.
Singleton still has a film gestating at the moment, which Shadow&Act (via /Film) managed to get some information about from the man himself. During a talk at New York City’s Museum of the Moving Image, the director...
Singleton still has a film gestating at the moment, which Shadow&Act (via /Film) managed to get some information about from the man himself. During a talk at New York City’s Museum of the Moving Image, the director...
- 11/17/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
[1] That long-gestating Tupac Shakur biopic is in need of a director once again, as John Singleton has dropped out of talks to helm. Antoine Fuqua was originally lined up to direct, but left the project due to difficulties with casting the lead role -- even a nationwide talent search failed to yield any candidates who passed muster -- and Singleton entered negotiations [2] last month. Now, with the Shakur pic off his plate, Singleton's next project will be an untitled love story that reunites him with Baby Boy stars Tyrese Gibson and Taraji P. Henson. More after the jump. Though the Boyz n the Hood director's career hasn't been so hot lately -- his last film was the Taylor Lautner-starring Abduction, which landed with a thud -- Singleton seemed uniquely qualified to bring Shakur's dramatic tale to the big screen. The filmmaker had developed a friendly relationship with the rapper...
- 11/16/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
John Singleton blasted his way onto the cinematic landscape with his mightily impressive and rightly lauded debut feature, Boyz N The Hood. But that was a looong time ago and to be blunt, the intervening years have not been kind.
Higher Learning, Shaft, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Four Brothers all had their moments and were each serviceable enough in their own right, but there was none of the searing impact of his first outing.
His latest offering is the Taylor Lautner film, Abduction, which has not been terribly well received by the critical fraternity and there is a danger that Singleton will slip further and further into this sort of unambitious mediocrity.
It should be with some measure of cautious optimism therefore that we greet the news of a new project possibly in Singleton’s pipeline. A Tupac Shakur biopic has been knocking around for a while and was originally going...
Higher Learning, Shaft, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Four Brothers all had their moments and were each serviceable enough in their own right, but there was none of the searing impact of his first outing.
His latest offering is the Taylor Lautner film, Abduction, which has not been terribly well received by the critical fraternity and there is a danger that Singleton will slip further and further into this sort of unambitious mediocrity.
It should be with some measure of cautious optimism therefore that we greet the news of a new project possibly in Singleton’s pipeline. A Tupac Shakur biopic has been knocking around for a while and was originally going...
- 10/18/2011
- by Dave Roper
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
It's been some time since John Singleton made a movie that generated much excitement. (Though some Taylor Lautner fans might argue, thanks to this year's Abduction.) But he has been looking at interesting movies in the past couple months. First he was mentioned as a possible director for Straight Outta Compton, the biopic of once-controversial rap group N.W.A -- though it looks like that movie might go to Craig Brewer or another director. But now Singleton is also being talked up as a potential director for the Tupac Shakur biopic that no one seems able to make. Antoine Fuqua was attached for some time, and production company Morgan Creek did some real work to keep him on the movie. But he couldn't cast the lead, and Dreamworks dropped the picture, prompting Fuqua to move on to Hunter Killer. So can John Singleton succeed where Fuqua failed? Given that...
- 10/14/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
John Singleton is currenlty in talks to direct a biopic about Tupac Shakur for Morgan Creek and Universal. Singleton directed the rapper-actor in Poetic Justice almost twenty years ago. Training Day's Antoine Fuqua has been in the directors chair, but has now dropped out of the project, according to Vulture. Despite a nationwide talent search for the role of Shakur, Fuqua could not find an actor he approved of. Oscar-nominated screenwriters Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson (Ali, Nixon) penned the script for the biopic, and a recent draft was done by Brian Tucker.
Fuqua has now moved on and ils attacched to odirect Relativity Media’s Hunter Killer, a thriller about an American submariner and a Navy Seal team who must work together to rescue the Russian president during a military coup d'état. (Vulture also hears exclusively that Relativity is in talks with Sam Worthington to star in that production.
Fuqua has now moved on and ils attacched to odirect Relativity Media’s Hunter Killer, a thriller about an American submariner and a Navy Seal team who must work together to rescue the Russian president during a military coup d'état. (Vulture also hears exclusively that Relativity is in talks with Sam Worthington to star in that production.
- 10/12/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
After losing the N.W.A. biopic to a lineup of potential helmers, Vulture lets us know that John Singleton may be getting something of consolation prize from Universal Studios. As they report, he’s negotiating with the studio and Morgan Creek to direct their biopic of Tupac Shakur — the same project that had Antoine Fuqua attached for over a year before he left, partly due to a difficulty in finding someone to play the rapper. The script has been penned by the Nixon and Ali team of Stephen J. Rivele & Chris Wilkinson, and a polish was conducted by Broken City writer Brian Tucker.
They’re now eyeing Singleton, a man with a personal connection to the subject. While he directed Shakur in the 1993 film Justice, the two of them managed to hold a friendship after shooting on the project had completed. (Vulture provides a funny video of them racing one another...
They’re now eyeing Singleton, a man with a personal connection to the subject. While he directed Shakur in the 1993 film Justice, the two of them managed to hold a friendship after shooting on the project had completed. (Vulture provides a funny video of them racing one another...
- 10/12/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
We've seen the life story of Christopher 'Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace brought to life through 2009's Notorious, but now one-time friend, ultimate rival, and fellow rapper Tupac '2Pac' Shakur is getting his own biopic. And what better director to tell the rapper's tragic story than writer/director/friend John Singleton, who directed Shakur for his dramatic turn in 1993's Poetic Justice. Recently, we reported that Singleton could be taking on another hip-hop story he was close to with a film about N.W.A. that would be partly founded by Singleton's Boyz 'N the Hood star Ice Cube, but this hip-hip biopic might take priority now. More below! The most recent draft of the script for Shakur's film comes from Brian Tucker (Broken City), with earlier drafts by Oscar-nominated screenwriters (and two guys who have penned their fair share of biopics) Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson (Ali, Nixon,...
- 10/12/2011
- by James Wallace
- firstshowing.net
John Singleton is in negotiations to direct a biopic about his former colleague and slain rapper Tupac Shakur for Morgan Creek and Universal Pictures reports Vulture.
Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") was previously setup with the project but had difficulty casting the role so he has moved on to "Hunter Killer". Singleton was prepping the N.W.A. biopic "Straight Outta Compton" at New Line but is now taking on this film instead.
Stephen J. Rivele, Chris Wilkinson and Brian Tucker all worked on the script for the film. The late Shakur and Singleton became quite friendly during the filming of 1993’s "Poetic Justice".
Singleton is coming off the Taylor Lautner thriller "Abduction" which was a critical and box-office fizzer.
Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") was previously setup with the project but had difficulty casting the role so he has moved on to "Hunter Killer". Singleton was prepping the N.W.A. biopic "Straight Outta Compton" at New Line but is now taking on this film instead.
Stephen J. Rivele, Chris Wilkinson and Brian Tucker all worked on the script for the film. The late Shakur and Singleton became quite friendly during the filming of 1993’s "Poetic Justice".
Singleton is coming off the Taylor Lautner thriller "Abduction" which was a critical and box-office fizzer.
- 10/12/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
As reported on this site last month, director Antoine Fuqua and Morgan Creek, have wisely decided to cast an unknown for the lead role in the upcoming Tupac Shakur biopic; and they’ve taken their search to the web, by launching an online casting call, which is now officially live!
Applicants are required to download a short monologue (I embedded it below), perform it on-camera as well as a minute of their favorite Tupac track, also on camera, and upload onto the provided website Here. Submissions will be accepted from now through 11:59pm on April 30th, 2011. So you’ve got over a month.
Principal photography is scheduled to begin in early summer in Georgia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, so we should know all the casting details very soon after the April 30th submission deadline.
Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, is serving as executive producer. The screenplay was written by Steve Bagatourian,...
Applicants are required to download a short monologue (I embedded it below), perform it on-camera as well as a minute of their favorite Tupac track, also on camera, and upload onto the provided website Here. Submissions will be accepted from now through 11:59pm on April 30th, 2011. So you’ve got over a month.
Principal photography is scheduled to begin in early summer in Georgia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, so we should know all the casting details very soon after the April 30th submission deadline.
Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, is serving as executive producer. The screenplay was written by Steve Bagatourian,...
- 3/19/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
It’s often amazing how a premature death has the habit of deifying artists. So many composers, painters and actors have accrued almost mythical status in the face of a young and tragic demise. So it was with Tupac Shakur, widely considered among the very best hip-hop artists of his generation, whose tempestuous life was ended by a barrage of gunshots in September 1996. Now, following on from the biopic of his rival- and, fleetingly, suspect in his murder- Biggie Smalls, Notorious – Tupac is to have his own story told on the big screen according to Deadline (via The Playlist).
According to the studio Morgan Creek Productions, principle photography has been tentatively scheduled to begin late spring and early summer with director Antoine Fuqua- most renowned for the excellent Training Day- at the helm. Casting is underway with Fuqua believed to be looking at an unknown to lead.
This...
According to the studio Morgan Creek Productions, principle photography has been tentatively scheduled to begin late spring and early summer with director Antoine Fuqua- most renowned for the excellent Training Day- at the helm. Casting is underway with Fuqua believed to be looking at an unknown to lead.
This...
- 2/12/2011
- by Ben Szwediuk
- Obsessed with Film
All eyes are on Tupac. Morgan Creek Productions will shoot the principal photography of the biopic “Tupac” in late spring/early summer in Los Angeles, New York, Georgia and Las Vegas. The cast is currently still being cast. The film will be directed by Antoine Fuqua. The biopic will explore the life and legacy of all-time rapper Tupac Shakur, including his rise as a hip hop artist and actor; his controversial time at Death Row records; and his involvement with the East coast/West coast rap war. “I am confident that Morgan Creek will stay true to the common goal we share depicting Tupac’s life in a way that will allow the world to see the authority of his artistry, his hopes, and his life goals,” said Afeni Shakur-Davis, the mother of Tupac. The screenplay is written by Steve Bagatourian, Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson. It is...
- 2/11/2011
- LRMonline.com
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: It’s a little surprising the Tupac Shakur story hasn’t been told on film yet. The portrait of a modern-music tragedy, Shakur was gunned down on the streets of Las Vegas. His murder remains unsolved.
Maybe the new biopic, “Tupac,” will shed some light on the mystery, as well as on the man’s life. Principal photography begins this spring on the Antoine Fuqua-directed film, which will be shot on location in Los Angeles, New York, Georgia and Las Vegas. A release notes that the film currently is being cast, and no name has been attached to the role of Shakur.
More from the release:
The film chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip hop artist and actor, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records, where he...
Hollywoodnews.com: It’s a little surprising the Tupac Shakur story hasn’t been told on film yet. The portrait of a modern-music tragedy, Shakur was gunned down on the streets of Las Vegas. His murder remains unsolved.
Maybe the new biopic, “Tupac,” will shed some light on the mystery, as well as on the man’s life. Principal photography begins this spring on the Antoine Fuqua-directed film, which will be shot on location in Los Angeles, New York, Georgia and Las Vegas. A release notes that the film currently is being cast, and no name has been attached to the role of Shakur.
More from the release:
The film chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip hop artist and actor, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records, where he...
- 2/11/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
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