Funk music legend George Clinton will be given the biopic treatment. The task of playing the music icon will be none other than comedy and film giant, Eddie Murphy. Over his illustrious career, Murphy has played musicians, like the fictional character James ‘Thunder’ Early in Dreamgirls (more on that film later!), and portrayed real life people like comedian Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name.
The yet to be titled film will be based on Georg Clinton’s 2014 memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You? Clinton was behind such songs as Parliament’s “Give Up The Funk”, and “Flash Light”, as well as Funkadelic’s “One Nation Under a Groove,” and (Not Just) Knee Deep.” He also released his own solo records like “Atomic Dog.”
This film will tell the untold story of the Funk music pioneer and his extreme journey in creating the doo-wop turned R&B group The Parliaments, which later morphed into R&B/Funk band Parliament. The Parliaments’ backing band is Funkadelic, who performed Psychedelic Soul and Rock. Together, they were the collective, P-Funk.
P-Funk was known for their outlandish space-aged themed concerts, eccentric sounds, and genre bending music. Clinton and his crew changed the music scene and culture in his era and the ones to follow.
Bill Condon will be directing the untitled film for Amazon MGM Studios. Condon previously directed Eddie Murphy in the award winning Dreamgirls. They will be reunited to take on another musical film.
The script will be written by Virgil Williams, with the original draft from Max Werner. An actual fan of George Clinton, Catherine Davis, who put the project in motion, brought the idea to Eddie Murphy.
Eddie Murphy Productions will be producing the film along with John Davis through Davis Entertainment, and Greg Yolen. Charisse Hewitt-Webster will executive produce under Eddie Murphy Productions. Archie Ivy, Jeff Jampol, as well as George Clinton himself will also executive produce the film.
More information about the film and other stars will be revealed in the coming months.
