biopic

Gabrielle Union Reveals Who She’d Want To Play Her In A Biopic

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Gabrielle Union says that she’d want Ryan Destiny or Coco Jones to play her in a biopic about her life. If the story were to take place at an older age, she’d go with Ashanti or Janet Jackson. Union discussed the hypothetical casting during a recent interview with Hello Beautiful. For the piece, Union spoke with the creator of the MeToo movement, Tarana Burke.

“I think young me would be somewhere between Ryan Destiny, Coco Jones,” Gabrielle Union said when asked for a casting. “And then older me? I’d say Janet. Maybe Ashanti could play me in my 30s, early 40s—and then Miss Janet.”

Gabrielle Union’s “Hello Beautiful” Cover

The interview comes amid Union’s appearance in season three of Apple TV+’s true crime drama Truth Be Told. The iconic actress plays Eva, a high school principal driven by raising awareness for missing Black girls in her community. Speaking with the outlet, Union explained that she was looking to take on more light-hearted roles at the time she was cast. However, she says that she trusts Octavia Spencer, who stars in the series, and decided to take on the role for her.

“After The Inspection tapped into darkness in me, I wasn’t prepared to confront it (in a healthy way). I was still reeling and unwinding from that. I was like, ‘I can’t do any more darkness, but I can coast through some comedies, so please let’s concentrate on comedies for 2022,’” Union recalled.

She continued: “My team was like, ‘I know you want to concentrate on comedies but we have this offer to do season three of Truth Be Told with Octavia. We know you guys are friends, but we just think this subject matter is something you might be interested in.’ Octavia must have hit me right after that, and we talked a bit. We have been trying to work together again for over 20 years. I trust her in a way that I don’t trust most people in this town in our industry, which is saying a lot. So if I was gonna do it, it would need to be with someone I trust, like Octavia.”

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Michael Jackson Biopic “Will Glorify A Man Who Raped Children,” “Leaving Neverland” Director Says

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A biopic on Michael Jackson is officially on the way. However, it appears that a film surrounding the life and times of the King Of Pop is already facing backlash. Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed published an op-ed in The Guardian where he slammed Lionsgate for moving forward with the film. The title of his op-ed reads, “This new Michael Jackson biopic will glorify a man who abused children.”

Reed’s op-ed not only criticized Lionsgate but also, the press for the “gentle raising of eyebrows” surrounding the film. The comment was made in response to The Hollywood Reporter which reported that the film will “address all aspects of Jackson’s life, though it is unclear how the film will address the many controversies involving” the singer.  “No one is talking about ‘cancelling’ this movie, which will glorify a man who raped children,” he wrote. From there, he directed a question to the filmmakers involved, including director Antoine Fuqua.

“How will you represent the moment when Jackson, a grown man in his 30s, takes a child by the hand and leads him into that bedroom? How will you depict what happens next? By sidestepping the question of Jackson’s predilection for sleeping with young boys, you are broadcasting a message to millions of survivors of child sexual abuse. That message is: if a pedophile is rich and popular enough, society will forgive him.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Director Dan Reed poses in the press room with the award for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special for Leaving Neverland’ during the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/WireImage)

At this point, there aren’t many details surrounding the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic. However, Lionsgate confirmed it was in the works. Shortly after, Fuqua confirmed Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, would take on the role of the late pop star. 

Reed left people devastated when Leaving Neverland debuted in 2019. The four-hour documentary explored the stories of Wade Robson and James Safechuck and their relationship with Jackson. Though Robson previously testified on Jackson’s behalf, leading to his 2008 acquittal, he later said that he lied to protect his mentor and abuser. 

Leaving Neverland ultimately went on to win a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. The documentary marked the first time when Jackson’s accusers spoke publicly about the alleged abuse they experienced. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates surrounding the biopic. 

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Madonna Biopic Axed After World Tour Announcement

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If you are excited about seeing a film about the life and adventures of Madonna, you’ll have to wait. Details about the famed music icon’s biographical film emerged last year when it was rumored that Julia Fox was up for a role. The actress also spoke on meeting Madonna—whom she was famously photographed with alongside Kanye West. However, Variety reports that the anticipated film has been scrapped now that the singer has decided to embark on a world tour.

By now, the industry recognizes that Madonna moves and shakes as she pleases. So, it doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise that although her biopic already cast its lead, Julia Garner, it was tossed.

Read More: Madonna Says Working On Biopic Script Is Like “Hacking Off My Limbs”

To celebrate 40 years in music, Madonna will be taking to stages across the globe. Several cities sold out in minutes, including Paris, New York, and London. Variety spoke with sources who shared that Madonna still wants to produce a biopic, but at the moment, she’s keenly focused on her tour.

The 35-city trek is slated to begin on July 15.

Meanwhile, it’s reported that Madonna made sure Garner secured the top role in her film. In July 2022, the singer detailed what it was like writing the script. She likened the experience to “hacking of my limbs.”

Read More: Julia Fox In Talks To Star In Madonna Biopic Portraying Actress Debi Mazar: Report

“I have a very long script that is really hard for me to make shorter. I’ve been whittling away at it, but it’s like hacking off my limbs,” she said while also revealing why she decided to make the leap and release a biopic.

“I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film. It was also a preemptive strike because a lot of people were trying to make movies about me,” she further stated. “Mostly misogynistic men. So, I put my foot in the door and said, ‘No one’s going to tell my story but me.”

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Michael Jackson Biopic Gets Green Light, Antoine Fuqua As Director

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Production company Lionsgate just greenlit a biopic on Michael Jackson’s life and artistry and found its director. Moreover, Antoine Fuqua will direct, who previously helmed Emanciption and Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers. As Deadline reports, the tentative title for the upcoming film is Michael.

VARIOUS, VARIOUS – JUNE 25: Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1986. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Additionally, the report shared some other details about the movie’s production and crew. John Logan (They/Them, Skyfall) will write the script, with production handled by Graham King of Bohemian Rhapsody for GK Films. Also, producers include co-executors of the King of Pop’s estate, John Branca and John McClain.

Furthermore, sources told Deadline that the upcoming film will cover the highs and lows of Jackson’s musical legacy. However, it also plans to address the accusations of pedophilia, grooming, and misconduct that have defined public discourse around him for years now.

Meanwhile, Fuqua will dive into Michael after production wraps up for his next film, The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington. Moreover, GK Films’ previous music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody raked in a whopping $900 million in worldwide gross sales. Still, that film was pretty polarizing, so Michael has big shoes to fill, but bigger ones to prove wrong.

“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am,” said Fuqua. Before his breakout film Training Day in 2001, he started directing videos for Prince, Lil Wayne, Stevie Wonder, and more.

“For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson,” he continued. “I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work – the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV. His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible.”

What do you think of the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic and its new director? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest news on music history in pop culture.

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Mack Wilds Wants To Play LL Cool J In Biopic

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Mack Wilds says that he wants to portray LL Cool J if a biopic is made about the legendary rapper. The Wire actor put his name in the running for the role after Cool J tweeted about making a biopic, earlier this week.

“Should I do a bio pic?” LL Cool J captioned a series of photos of himself.

NEWARK, NJ – AUGUST 05: Tristan Wilds attends Black Girls Rock! 2017 at NJPAC on August 5, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

Wilds responded to the post directly by writing, “I mean… what are we talking about?”

Afterward, he elaborated on the idea while speaking with HipHopDX.

“Hell yes! I’d love to play LL,” he told the outlet. “I’ve been trying to figure out if he’d do a biopic for years.”

From there, he reflected on the impact LL Cool J had on his career.

“LL was my very first concert,” he explained. “He did a free concert at Wingate Park in Brooklyn. My dad took me ’cause he saw I really connected to his music. He was my first understanding of stage presence.”

Wild has previously starred in The Wire, Shots Fired, 90210, and more over the years. In addition to his acting career, Wilds has been releasing music. He dropped his debut album, New York: A Love Story, in 2013. Method Man, Raekwon, and Doug E. Fresh all made appearances on the project. Wilds earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album, but lost out to Rihanna’s Unapologetic.

He released his latest project, AfterHours, in 2017.

It remains unclear if LL Cool J is serious about going forward with a biopic, but look out for Wilds’ involvement if he does.

Check out Mack Wilds’ response to LL Cool J below.

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Keyshia Cole Checks Person Who Claims She’s “Degrading” Her Mother In Biopic

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The loss of a parent is already difficult, but Keyshia Cole has publicly grieved the passing of both her parents. The singer’s mother, Frankie Lons, reportedly died of a drug overdose following years of struggling with addiction. Lons amassed a global following after appearing alongside Cole on reality TV, and her fans took to social media to share more positive memories.

Since then, Cole revealed she was working on a biopic about her life. It was recently announced that actress Debbie Morgan would portray Lons in the forthcoming film. While this seems like good news, a Twitter user accused Cole of “degrading” her late mother “for her benefit.”

NEW YORK – JUNE 19: Singer Keyshia Cole (L) and her mother Frankie Lons leave the “Late Show With Dave Letterman” taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater June 19, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

Read More: Keyshia Cole Breaks Silence On Mother’s Death: “This Is So Hard”

“I said it! As soon as @KeyshiaCole momma died she was going to used that opportunity as she always does and make it work for her,” the person wrote. “Now she is making a movie about Frankie she always degrading them for her benefit.”

Keyshia caught wind of the criticism and defended herself against the accusation.

“Degrading my mother. ? I wanted the best for my mom,” she said. “You prefer my story not be my story? At times I have too. But my truth is my truth. I just live mine loud. (while some suffer in silence. But This will come wit all that I do, So speak YOUR TRUTH, but yours ain’t mine. 💕.”

Read More: Keyshia Cole Details Mother’s Funeral: “Would Love To See All My Siblings”

“And I’m addition to that I have recorded a record that will be in the movie dedicated to my mother,” she also stated. “(You all may or may not like it) but….. This movie was healing in some ways for me, so very appreciative of having this happen.”

After Cole responded, several of the singer’s fans also gave the Twitter user a piece of their minds. It didn’t stop the person from continuing to spew harsh comments. Check it out below.

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