Variety is reporting that Walt Disney Studios is developing an original movie musical based on the songs of American treasure Lionel Richie.
Tentatively titled “All Night Long,” the new project will use some of Richie’s greatest hits in a live-action project in early stages of development with a theatrical release in mind, sources said.
Richie and his manager Bruce Eskowitz are producing the project with Cavalry Media executives Dana Brunetti and Matt Del Piano. Screenwriter Pete Chiarelli (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “The Proposal”) is currently at work on the script, added the insiders.
Richie’s signature songs include “Penny Lover,” “Truly,” “All Night Long,” “Hello,” “Three Times a Lady,” “Running With the Night,” “Say You, Say Me,” “Sail On,” “Stuck On You” and “Dancing on the Ceiling.”
Representatives for Disney and Richie had no immediate comment on the matter. At age 70 Ritchie was forced to postpone his 2020 European summer tour to 2021 due to the pandemic.
Richie, currently a judge on Disney-owned ABC’s “American Idol,” sold the pitch to the studio in January. The singer is represented by CAA and Red Light Management.
While the film is more in line with the jukebox musical vibe of the hugely successful “Mamma Mia” films based on the Abba songbook, recent musical movies have generated big box office returns and awards buzz.
Richie holds four Grammy awards and has reportedly sold over 100 million records worldwide. He’s a three-time Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song, with one win in 1986 for the song “Say You Say Me” from the film “White Nights.”
Loading…