42 star Chadwick Boseman will play James Brown in Universal’s upcoming biopic.
The film is being produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins along with Jagged Films’ Mick Jagger and Victoria Pearman. The Help ‘s Tate Taylor will direct the biopic, which is based on a screenplay by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth.
Grazer has been working on a James Brown biopic since 2001. At one point, Eddie Murphy was attached to star. Murphy played James “Thunder” Early, who was inspired by singers such as Brown and Jackie Wilson, in 2006’s Dreamgirls and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Tate Taylor said that the biopic will film in Mississippi starting this fall.
“Every frame will be shot in Mississippi. We’re even doing Paris, France, in Mississippi…. Vietnam, as well, in Mississippi,” he said. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant joined Taylor in announcing the project and said that the state will provide incentives for residents hired on the project.
The film will begin when James Brown was about five years old, and will detail his rise from poverty and violence to becoming the Godfather of Soul. Brown was an active part of the project during its development, up until his death on December 25, 2006. Taylor declined to give specific details about what parts of Brown’s life would be covered in the film.
Chadwick Boseman earned positive reviews for his portrayal of Jackie Robinson in 42 . Prior to that, he played Sergeant McNair on the NBC series Persons Unknown. He also played Nathaniel “Nate” Ray in Lincoln Heights . Boseman was recently cast in the sports dramedy Draft Day , which is directed by Ivan Reitman ( Ghostbusters ). The film focuses on the general manager of the Cleveland Browns, who must find to land the number 1 draft pick. Boseman will play Vontane Mack, a promising Louisiana football player.
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