Chris Rock is reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to direct and produce a film dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., adapted directly from Jonathan Eig’s book. King: One lifeaccordingly diversity.
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Considered the definitive biography of the icon of the civil rights struggle, King: A Life was published in 2023 and is not currently translated into French. It draws on information from the FBI and interviews to portray the activist as a “courageous but emotionally troubled individual.” who called for peaceful protests while struggling with his own weaknesses and a government that persecuted him.” Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis in 1968 at the age of 39.
It will not be a debut behind the camera for the comedian, who previously directed “President by Accident” in 2003, “I Think I Love My Wife” in 2007 and “Top Five” in 2014 as well as the stand-up shows Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo and Chris Rock: Tamborine.
Universal Pictures chose to make the book into a dramatic film, with Steven Spielberg as executive producer.
Ryan Jones, Universal’s senior vice president of production development, has signed on to oversee the currently untitled project for the studio, along with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners and the director’s producing partner Kristie Macosko Krieger, who will produce the film alongside Chris Rock .
Since the biographical film is still in its early stages, no casting decisions have been announced yet, especially since the actors’ strike in Hollywood is not yet over.