Fresh off his concert film collaboration with David Byrne, director Spike Lee is heading into another music-based project, this time taking on Kwame Kwei-Armah's screenplay about the history of Viagra — through song.
Songwriters Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald will lend their music to the story, which is based on a 2018 Esquire article titled All Rise: The Untold Story Of The Guys Who Launched Viagra. The film will tell the story of the Pfizer team who launched the erectile dysfunction drug decades ago.
So far, the project has no title, cast or release date, though Studio Entertainment One is on board for the film, alongside Matt Jackson's Jackson Pictures and Lee's 40 Acres on the production side.
What the project does have is Lee's full commitment and enthusiasm, as evidenced by the following statement from the director [via Deadline]:
First And Foremost, I Thank Ms. Jacquelyn Shelton Lee. I Thank My Late Mother For As She Would Say Taking "My Narrow,Rusty Behind" Dragging, Kickin' And Screamin' To The Movies When I Wuz A Nappy Headed Kid Growing Up In Da Streets Of Da People's Republic Of Brooklyn. I Did Not Want To See Corny People Singin' And Dancin'. I Instead Wanted To Play With My Friends On Da Block, Stoop Ball, Stick Ball, Punch Ball, Soft Ball, Basketball, 2 Hand Touch, Tackle Football, Coco Leevio, Johnny On Da Pony, Hot Peas And Butter, Crack Top, Down Da Sewer And Of Course-Booty's Up. All The Great New York City Street Games That Might Be Sadly Lost Forever. My Father, Bill Lee, Jazz/Folk Bassist,Composer HATED HollyWeird Movies, Henceforth And What Not, Me Being The Eldest Of 5 Children I Became Mommy's Movie Date. She Was A Cinefile. Thank You Lawdy She Didn't Listen To My Ongoing Complaints About Musicals. So Finally Going Into My 4th Decade As A Filmmaker I Will Be Directing A DANCIN',ALL SINGIN' MUSICAL Spike Lee Joint And I Can't Wait. My Moms Has Been Waiting TOO!!! And Dats Da Rodgers And Hammerstein Truth, Ruth.
Earlier this year, the filmmaker released his Vietnam war drama Da 5 Bloods through Netflix. Back in 2018, he helmed the Academy Award-winning BlacKkKlansman.
Songwriters Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald will lend their music to the story, which is based on a 2018 Esquire article titled All Rise: The Untold Story Of The Guys Who Launched Viagra. The film will tell the story of the Pfizer team who launched the erectile dysfunction drug decades ago.
So far, the project has no title, cast or release date, though Studio Entertainment One is on board for the film, alongside Matt Jackson's Jackson Pictures and Lee's 40 Acres on the production side.
What the project does have is Lee's full commitment and enthusiasm, as evidenced by the following statement from the director [via Deadline]:
First And Foremost, I Thank Ms. Jacquelyn Shelton Lee. I Thank My Late Mother For As She Would Say Taking "My Narrow,Rusty Behind" Dragging, Kickin' And Screamin' To The Movies When I Wuz A Nappy Headed Kid Growing Up In Da Streets Of Da People's Republic Of Brooklyn. I Did Not Want To See Corny People Singin' And Dancin'. I Instead Wanted To Play With My Friends On Da Block, Stoop Ball, Stick Ball, Punch Ball, Soft Ball, Basketball, 2 Hand Touch, Tackle Football, Coco Leevio, Johnny On Da Pony, Hot Peas And Butter, Crack Top, Down Da Sewer And Of Course-Booty's Up. All The Great New York City Street Games That Might Be Sadly Lost Forever. My Father, Bill Lee, Jazz/Folk Bassist,Composer HATED HollyWeird Movies, Henceforth And What Not, Me Being The Eldest Of 5 Children I Became Mommy's Movie Date. She Was A Cinefile. Thank You Lawdy She Didn't Listen To My Ongoing Complaints About Musicals. So Finally Going Into My 4th Decade As A Filmmaker I Will Be Directing A DANCIN',ALL SINGIN' MUSICAL Spike Lee Joint And I Can't Wait. My Moms Has Been Waiting TOO!!! And Dats Da Rodgers And Hammerstein Truth, Ruth.
Earlier this year, the filmmaker released his Vietnam war drama Da 5 Bloods through Netflix. Back in 2018, he helmed the Academy Award-winning BlacKkKlansman.