Lee Daniels In Talks To Direct Singer Andra Day In Billie Holiday Biopic “Billie” With Lakeith Stanfield Co-StarringPosted by Wilson Morales
June 5, 2018
Source: Variety
Variety is reporting Lee Daniels is in talks to direct the Billie Holiday biopic “Billie,” with R&B singer Andra Day as the top choice for the title role and Lakeith Stanfield for the male role, though nothing is yet finalized for either thesp.
Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are producing, with Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks penning the script.
Holiday, also known as “Lady Day,” was a legendary jazz singer whose career spanned three decades before her passing in 1959. Her iconic performing style has influenced and inspired artists and jazz musicians for years to come.
Diana Ross famously played Holiday in 1972’s Lady Sings the Blues, where the film was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Actress in a Leading Role. It was followed by a 1986 Broadway play, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.” Audra McDonald won her record-breaking sixth Tony Award for the 2014 Broadway production.
The film is still looking for a studio and it is unknown when production would get under way, but with deals firming, the hope is for shooting to start before the end of the year.
Daniels hasn’t directed a film since the box office hit “The Butler,” instead putting most of his focus on his hit TV shows “Empire” and “Star.”
