No, you’re not reading this wrong. I’m hearing David Gordon Green has signed up to direct a Lionel Richie musical biopic. Peter Chiarelli (“Crazy Rich Asians”) wrote the screenplay. The film is currently has set up shop at Disney. The way things are moving, I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes into production this year.
Richie, 75, is one of the best-selling artists of all-time. He started off as the lead singer of The Commodores, but found his biggest success as a solo artist in the ‘80s, and the rest was history. In the span of five years between 1981 and 1985, Richie had five #1 singles: “Endless Love” with Diana Ross, “Truly”, “All Night Long”, “Hello”, and “Say You, Say Me”.
As for Green, he has somewhat brushed off the stench of “Exorcist: Believer.” Last year, he quickly shot a smaller film, “Nutcrackers,” starring Ben Stiller. Sadly, the film earned mixed reviews and went straight to HULU during the holiday season. His helming a Lionel Richie biopic, let alone a musical, is another head-scratching endeavor for an artist who has continued to make unpredictable choices in his career.
Green, 48, was once heralded as the heir to Terrence Malick with his first four films: “George Washington,” “All the Real Girls,” “Undertow” and “Snow Angels.” The late Roger Ebert was also a major supporter of his. Although Green did end up directing a few more gems afterwards (“Joe,” “Stronger,” “Prince Avalanche”), these last five years he sold his soul to Blumhouse by directing three ‘Halloween’ movies and the aforementioned trainwreck, ‘Exorcist: Believer.’
Of course, we all know the rule: take these reactions with a grain of salt rather than treating them as gospel. Still, I will say that the film tested like gangbusters earlier this year, and Lionsgate clearly has confidence.