If you saw 42 earlier this year, you should be familiar with actor Chadwick Boseman (who played Jackie Robinson in the film). Boseman is a relatively new face to Hollywood, but he’s already chalked up the honor of playing a major real-life sports figure, and now he’s tapped to play one of the biggest names in the music industry. Uber-producer Brian Grazer has been trying to make a James Brown biopic for almost a decade now, even collaborating with Brown before he died in 2006 at the age of 73. Now he’s got his star in Boseman, who will play The Godfather of Soul. The Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger will co-produce with Grazer for Universal, though the title has not yet be determined. Variety broke the story, and this news means the project is now expected to be considered a go. The film’s screenplay is by FAIR GAME‘s Jez & John-Henry Butterworth, and THE HELP director Tate Taylor in set to be behind the camera. The movie was discussed last year in October, referenced as “a young boy’s rise from extreme poverty and violence to become The Godfather of Soul, one of the most influential black artists in history whose career spanned six decades.” Boseman is said to have beat out a large number of potential candidates for the role. James Brown’s widow Tommie Rae Brown was quoted to say:
I am deeply honored that Mick Jagger and Brian Grazer, two of my husband James Brown’s favorite people, have entered into a partnership to bring his inspirational story to the big screen.
And co-producer Mick Jagger was quoted to say the following:
It’s a great honor to be involved with a project as rich as the story of the legendary James Brown. He was a mesmerizing performer with a fascinating life.
What do you think of this casting news? Are you ready for a James Brown biopic? Tell us in the comments below.