John Boyega and Danielle Deadwyler are set to bring the story of the late soul legend Otis Redding and his widow Zelma Redding to life in a biopic dubbed Otis & Zelma.
The film, which intends to celebrate the 10 short years Otis and Zelma had together and their eternal love story, will be directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples and produced by Fifth Season, Homegrown Pictures, and Kinfolk Management + Media.
The music-based movie is about the chronicles of Otis Redding’s life.
Otis was considered to be one of the most impactful singer-songwriters of his time.
Some of his hits include (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, Respect, These Arms of Mine, and I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.
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However, his iconic superstar career was tragically cut short when he died in a 1967 plane crash, leaving behind Zelma and three young children. He was 26 years old.
The movie is said to have the full support of Zelma Redding and the Otis Redding estate.
The announcement also comes as Otis was honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, October 4.
Otis & Zelma is written by acclaimed playwright, screenwriter, and actor Donnetta Lavinia Grays, with revisions by Godfrey Peoples.
The biopic will be executive produced by Amos Newman, Homegrown Pictures’ Claire Brooks, Boyega, and Deadwyler.
The two actors are top of their game, as Boyega has built a stellar resume of major films including They Cloned Tyrone, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Woman King, Breaking and Pacific Rim: Uprising, the Star Wars trilogy, Attack the Block, and Small Axe.
Deadwyler is best known for her portrayal of Emmitt Till’s mother Mamie Till-Mobley in the acclaimed 2022 film Till, the HBO limited series Station Eleven, The Piano Lesson, and Netflix action-thriller, “Carry On, and has starred in and executive produced the Blumhouse and Universal Pictures’ thriller, The Women in the Yard.
The announcement also comes as Otis was honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, Oct. 4.
