True story: I’m a James Brown fan, man. While I may not have any soul left thanks to Kervyn selling it to the devil in exchange for the Infinity Gatsby, James Brown had plenty to go around, as he drank, sexed and sung his way into American folklore.
I’ve been waiting for a biopic starring the godfather of soul to surface for a while now, and it looks like we’re finally getting that chance, when Get On Down debuts next year.
To be directed by Tate “The Help” Taylor, the James Brown film will be feeling like a lean sex machine on October 17 2014. Chadwick Boseman will be the minister of soul in this film, with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer also being eyed for roles according to SlashFilm.
Here’s the official announcement confirming the film from Universal and the Wrap:
In his follow-up to the four-time Academy Award-nominated blockbuster The Help, Tate Taylor directs 42’s Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in GET ON UP. Based on the incredible life story of the Godfather of Soul, the film will give a fearless look inside the music, moves and moods of Brown, taking audiences on the journey from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.
Academy Award® winner Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, 8 Mile) and Erica Huggins (Flightplan) produce for Imagine Entertainment, with Mick Jagger and Victoria Pearman (Shine a Light) producing under their Jagged Films banner. Under his Wyolah Films label, Taylor also serves as a producer on GET ON UP, while Wyolah’s John Norris executive produces alongside Trish Hofmann and Peter Afterman.
I’m looking forward to this one. Musical biopics seem to be on the rise lately. We’ve already got a Jimi Hendrix film on the way, and if the remainder of Queen can get their heads out of their arses, a potentially interesting Freddie Mercury might also be made one of these days.
Last Updated: August 30, 2013
