Deadline reports that Paramount Pictures has now set up a biopic project on the musician-dancer-actor Sammy Davis, Jr. The movie is said to be based on the memoir Yes I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis, Jr. that was written in 1965 by Davis and Jane & Burt Boyar.
The project will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (American Assassin, Maze Runner: The Death Cure) with Davis’ heirs will joining him. Lionel Richie and Mike Menchel on the movie will also produce the project.
“I cannot tell you how excited I am about the signing of the Sammy Davis Jr. project with Paramount. I knew and loved Sammy dearly,” Richie, who reportedly played a key part in getting the rights to the project, tells the outlet. “I knew and loved Sammy dearly.”
The Sammy Davis, Jr. biopic will follow the artist and activist from Vaudeville with his dad and uncle in the Will Mastin Trio to the integrated infantry with Southern whites in WWII to his big break in the short film Sweet and Low in 1947 as well as his chance meeting with Frank Sinatra. Paramount will be taking the project out to writers and directors very soon, hoping to fast track the film.
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