Eddie Murphy is preparing to bring funk legend George Clinton to life in an untitled biopic directed by Bill Condon for Amazon MGM Studios. This exciting project is currently in the works, with a script being penned by Virgil Williams, based on an original draft by Max Werner. The concept was inspired by Catherine Davis, a lifelong fan of Clinton, who approached Murphy with the idea.
Previously, Condon directed Murphy in the critically acclaimed 2006 film Dreamgirls, which garnered Murphy an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. This collaboration hints at a promising reunion for the two creative talents.
The film will delve into Clinton’s influential career, drawing from his memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You? It promises to explore the untold story of the pioneering figure behind the musical collective Parliament-Funkadelic. Known for their unique blend of sci-fi themes, psychedelic sounds, and flamboyant performances, Clinton and his ensemble transformed the landscape of music and culture.
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Murphy will produce the film through Eddie Murphy Productions, alongside John Davis of Davis Entertainment and other producers including Charisse Hewitt-Webster, Clinton himself, Archie Ivy, and Jeff Jampol.
In addition to this project, Murphy has previously collaborated with Amazon MGM Studios on Candy Cane Lane and Coming 2 America, both of which featured him in lead roles. He is also set to star in the studio’s upcoming film The Pickup, alongside Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson.
Bill Condon is currently in post-production on Kiss of the Spider Woman, a film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical featuring Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna. His diverse portfolio also includes writing and directing films such as Kinsey and Gods and Monsters, the latter of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Virgil Williams, known for his Oscar-nominated screenplay for Mudbound, is adding depth to this project, having recently co-written an adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson with director Malcolm Washington.
