Photo Credit: David Shankbone; George Clinton/InstagramEddie Murphy is soon to be starring in an Amazon biopic of the life of Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton. This is part of a 3 picture deal he has with Amazon Studios that he inked after the success of Coming 2 America which he produced under Eddie Murphy Productions. He’s serving as producer alongside Davis Entertainment’s John Davis, Catherine Davis and Greg Yolen. Catherine is a lifelong Clinton fan who brought the idea to Murphy who decided to bring it to fruition through his production company. And don’t fret. There won’t be any misleading about Clinton’s life because he’s one of the listed executive producers on the film. And the film is based on his memoir Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You?
The film’s director is Bill Condon who worked with Murphy on Dreamgirls and is expected to bring that magic back with this new project. After directing Dreamgirls, in 2007 Condon spoke to Rachel Igel of Cinemontage where he said he chooses projects to direct because likes those who seek to break down barriers. “I think I have a connection to people on the outside of society who are trying to break down barriers. That really runs through all of the films you mentioned, though I’m not sure I’m always conscious of it when I choose my projects. I also think I’m very drawn to characters who are overtly theatrical in some way. It’s very useful for movies, because these characters are innately self-dramatizing.”
Now George Clinton is a man that has outlived his peers. He’s been performing since the 1950s. Everyone who started with him, James Brown, Elvis, etc. are all gone. He has been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since the ’90s and received a lifetime achievement award from The Grammy’s in 2019 as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that same year, a year after he announced his retirement, which isn’t really a retirement because he just appeared at a few jazz fests this year at 83 years old.
Clinton’s rise to fame and how he helped shape funk as we know it will be covered in this film. And given how Dreamgirls received 8 Oscar nominations the last time Murphy and Condon worked together, this is expected to be nothing less than a Blockbuster.
Glitzers, will you be watching this new George Clinton biopic when it comes out?
