ROTTEN TOMATOES: Spike Lee to Direct James Brown Biopic

Spike Lee to Direct James Brown Biopic

by Scott Weinberg | December 27, 2006

Not two days after the death of legendary R&B singer James Brown comes the news that producer Brian Grazer and director Spike Lee plan to direct a movie version of the singer's life. Well that was fast!

From Variety: "Spike Lee has signed on to direct a feature on the life of James Brown for Paramount and Imagine Entertainment ... Lee will rewrite a draft recently turned in by Jezz and John Henry Butterworth. Script has been through several drafts since Steve Baigelman wrote the original."

How did the project get kick-started so fast? Well, actually...

"Brown was an active part of the development of the biopic project. The singer met with Baigelman, and gave the Butterworth brothers access to his camp."

Ah. Click here for the full article.

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(1-20 of 20 posts) | Reply

rustdog writes:
on Dec 27 2006 05:26 AM

[b]lets sign this deal while its hot![/b]
Well at least while the body is still warm.

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Dec 27 2006 08:01 AM

yeah, that was pretty damn quick. Leave it up to Hollywood to always seek to capitalize on death. But hey, it's Grazer and Lee. I'm there.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Dec 27 2006 11:28 AM

I'm curious as to who they will cast.

(Reply to this)

rustdog writes:
on Dec 27 2006 02:04 PM

In reply to this comment (#851720)
They'll cast Jaime Foxx. Is there any other choice?

(Reply to this)

Reeven writes:
on Dec 27 2006 02:53 PM

Seriously. What the fuck.

(Reply to this)

kalabus writes:
on Dec 27 2006 08:53 PM

David Allen Grier will get the role.

(Reply to this)

gratefuldawg writes:
on Dec 28 2006 06:23 AM

Variety just reported that Steven Speilberg is going to direct Gerald Ford biopic starring Chevy Chase.

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Dec 28 2006 08:10 AM

In reply to this comment (#851723)
Grier?! Heavens no.

(Reply to this)

Impavido writes:
on Dec 28 2006 03:59 PM

Gee....I wonder if the antagonist will be a wealthy white man...

(Reply to this)

2.35:1 writes:
on Dec 29 2006 01:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#851719)
There isn't a better time. You just can't even measure JB's influence on modern music.

I foresee this being the greatest music biopic ever made, but it's gonna take a heck of an actor to pull Brown off. This isn't Ray Charles, blind at a piano or Johnny Cash drunk on stage-- this is a huge personality who had real skill as a PERFORMER. It'll be a lot more difficult to "sell" the moves, the voice and the "spirit" of JB.

(Reply to this)

saiga6360 writes:
on Dec 29 2006 10:00 AM

They should surprise everybody and cast Tony Danza or do everything in CGI.

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Dec 29 2006 12:17 PM

In reply to this comment (#851726)
Your point, please, Impavido?

(Reply to this)

Muddler writes:
on Dec 29 2006 10:35 PM

The only man fit to play the role is obviously Eddie Murphy.

HOT TUB! EH, UH...! GOTTA GET IN THE....UH...HOT TUB!

(Reply to this)

bigbrother writes:
on Dec 30 2006 11:30 AM

Two words....Dave Chappelle, but seriously (and I was only half kidding with that suggestion) couldn't we give the family some time to mourn before trying to turn a profit. Not a super fan, but I enjoyed his stuff and recognize his influence. I think we could give him the respect of waiting until his body is in the ground. I would have expected better from Lee. Of course this may be a case of they were planning it and Variety just decided to run the story while "the iron is hot" in which case I apologise for judging Spike.

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Dec 30 2006 06:31 PM

Ray; The Sequel.

(Reply to this)

saiga6360 writes:
on Dec 31 2006 04:25 PM

I'm still waiting for the Michael Jackson biopic. Oh wait... he's still alive.

Now there's an idea.

(Reply to this)

RedRing writes:
on Jan 02 2007 01:38 PM

In reply to this comment (#851733)
Well Saiga, many biopics are started when the person is still alive... and then they die before the movie comes out... In that case, where is our Osama bin Laden bio pic.

(Reply to this)

saiga6360 writes:
on Jan 02 2007 02:02 PM

If that's the case then producing a biopic is the best chance of wiping him out. If he somehow gets out of it, then reviews will give him a heart attack.

(Reply to this)

Now it's dark writes:
on Jan 02 2007 04:24 PM

Sounds like a bitch slapping good time.

(Reply to this)

RexLaboro writes:
on Jan 03 2007 05:24 PM

The script was already in the works and Brown had already given the okay for the biop. The message was delivered here on this board in such a way to garner a specific reaction, hence, comments that they couldnt wait. Obviously something they couldnt pass up. I hope Foxx doesnt get the part because even though Ray was a hit, his performance is no more than an impression. I been watching Jamie Foxx since his stand-up days and he aint foolin me.

(Reply to this)