Film & TV NewsAndra Day Tapped for Lee Daniels-Helmed Billie Holiday Biopic, Featuring a Script by Suzan-Lori ParksPulitzer Prize-winning playwright Parks will help bring the jazz legend to the screen.
By
Olivia Clement
June 06, 2018
Lee Daniels, Andra Day, and Suzan-Lori Parks
Oscar-nominated writer, director, and producer Lee Daniels (Empire, Star, Precious, Lee Daniels' The Butler) is in talks to direct the Billie Holiday biopic Billie, according to Variety. The film will feature a script by Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (Father Comes Home From the Wars), with “Rise Up” singer-songwriter Andra Day reportedly tapped to star as the iconic singer.
Atlanta's Lakeith Stanfield is also set to star in the film.
Billie follows in the fofotsteps of the 1972 film detailing Lady Day's life, Lady Sings the Blues (starring Diana Ross), as well as the 1986 play by Lanie Robertson (for which Audra McDonald won her sixth Tony Award in 2014).
Billie will be produced by Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum and has yet to sign a deal with a studio.
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PHOTO RECAP: Audra McDonald Is Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
PHOTO RECAP: Audra McDonald Is Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
Audra McDonald returned to Broadway in 2014 as Billie Holiday in Lanie Robertson's play with music, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. HBO announced Dec. 17 that it will film Audra in her sixth Tony Award-winning performance for future broadcast.
