The studio has acquired songs from the 'Purple Rain' singer's catalog to be featured in the new original film musical.
- Dec 4, 2018
AceShowbiz - Universal Pictures is making a new movie inspired by Prince's music. The studio announced on Monday, December 3 that it had acquired the rights to a number of classic songs from the late singer's catalog to be featured in the original film musical.
The movie will not be a Prince biopic, it is noted. Universal says that the singing legend's music will serve as the backdrop to a narrative feature like how ABBA's songs inspired the "Mamma Mia!" movie franchise.
It is currently unknown which Prince songs that will be used in the upcoming film. The storyline is also still kept under wraps, as no writer is currently attached to write the script. No director or cast member is announced for the project, which is yet to have a title and a release date.
Atom Factory's Troy Carter, the entertainment advisor of Prince's estate, will executive produce, alongside Jody Gerson, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, the exclusive worldwide publishing administrator for Prince's catalog. Mike Knobloch, president of global film music and publishing for Universal Pictures, will shepherd the project for the studio, with Universal vp production Sara Scott and creative executive Mika Pryce overseeing the film's development.
Prince died on April 21, 2016 of an accidental overdose of fentanyl at his Paisley Park recording studio complex. He was 57. He was cremated and his ashes were placed into a custom, 3D printed urn which was placed on display in the atrium of the Paisley Park complex in October 2016.
Throughout his career, he sold more than 100 million records worldwide with numerous hit singles, including "I Wanna Be Your Lover", "When Doves Cry", "Let's Go Crazy" and "Purple Rain". He also starred in a number of film, like 1984's rock musical drama "Purple Rain", which marked his acting debut. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
A documentary about the flamboyant singer is currently in the works for Netflix, with "Selma" helmer Ava DuVernay set to direct.
