‘Dreamgirls’ Team Reunited: Bill Condon Directing Eddie Murphy In Amazon MGM Biopic Of Parliament-Funkadelic’s George Clinton

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Condon is set to direct Eddie Murphy in Amazon MGM Studios’ untitled George Clinton biopic. Murphy, who teamed with Condon and was Oscar-nominated for his role in Dreamgirls, will star as Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton.

Script is being written by Virgil Williams, from an original draft by Max Werner.  The project was initiated by Catherine Davis, a lifelong George Clinton fan, who brought the idea to Murphy. 

The film will be produced by Murphy through his Eddie Murphy Productions, John Davis through Davis Entertainment, Catherine Davis, and Greg Yolen. Eddie Murphy Productions’ Charisse Hewitt-Webster, as well as George Clinton, Archie Ivy, and Jeff Jampol, are executive producing.

The film is based on George Clinton’s memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You? The film is the untold story of influential pioneer of funk and his tumultuous journey to founding musical collective Parliament-Funkadelic. Known for their outlandish sci-fi themes, surreal sounds, and psychedelic shows, Clinton and his band’s wild road redefined music and culture.  

The film reunites Murphy and Condon, who most recently worked together on Dreamgirls, in which Murphy starred alongside Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson. Condon is in post-production on Kiss of the Spider Woman, a feature adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, starring Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna. He’s repped by WME, Anonymous Content and attorney Wayne Alexander.

Murphy next stars for Amazon MGM in The Pickup, opposite Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson. He’s repped by WME and ML Management.

Williams, who was Oscar nominated for Mudbound, co-wrote The Piano Lesson script with director Malcolm Washington, based on the August Wilson play. The film, which is in the Oscar hunt, stars Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Corey Hawkins, Michael Potts and Ray Fisher and is produced by Denzel Washington and Todd Black. The film will be platformed November 8 before being released by Netflix November 22.  Williams is repped by CAA, manager Craig Brody from Map Point, and attorneys John Meigs and Mahdi Salehi of Hansen, Jacobson.