Legendary comedian Chris Rock is preparing to stretch his artistic wings while in final talks to direct an upcoming biopic on Martin Luther King Jr. for Universal Pictures.
Steven Spielberg is the executive producer, and the project will be based on Jonathan Eig’s biography, King: A Life, which debuted to rave reviews this past May and was the recipient of a National Book Award nomination. Having drawn upon recently declassified FBI information on Dr. King, the book is described by its publisher as an “intimate portrayal of King as a courageous but emotionally troubled individual who demanded peaceful protest while grappling with his own frailties and a government that hunted him.”
This past August, Rock took part in another riveting civil rights biopic having appeared as real-life NAACP leader Roy Wilkins in George C. Wolfe’s biopic Rustin, starring Colman Domingo. Additionally, his Netflix stand-up special, “Selective Outrage,” was well received when it premiered in May.
Rock, of course, is no stranger to the director’s chair having previously directed and starred in films such as Head of State (2003) I Think I Love My Wife (2007) and Top Five (2014). His other ventures in directing include episodes of his biographical sitcom, “Everybody Hates Chris,” various comedy specials, and oddly enough, a music video for the rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers.
