As he readies for a slew of major awards nominations coming his way for his Netflix war drama Da 5 Bloods and HBO documentary David Byrne’s American Utopia, Spike Lee is already looking towards the future as he has lined up his next co-written and directed project at Entertainment One: a movie musical about Pfizer’s miracle drug for men, Viagra, according to Deadline.
RELATED: Spike Lee Set to Direct Legendary’s Prince of Cats Adaptation
The film, which he will be co-writing with Kwame Kwei-Armah, will be based on David Kushner’s Esquire article “All Rise: The Untold Story of The Guys Who Launched Viagra” and be inspired by the true events of Pfizer’s discovery and launch of the erectile dysfunction drug, including its initial intent on treating heart-related chest pain until researchers learned of its other qualities, which would have immediate staying power in the global marketplace.
“First And Foremost, I Thank Ms. Jacquelyn Shelton Lee. I Thank My Late Mother For As She Would Say Taking ‘My Narrow ,Rusty Behind’ Dragging, Kickin’ And Screamin’ To The Movies When I Wuz A Nappy Headed Kid Growing Up In Da Streets Of Da People’s Republic Of Brooklyn,” Lee wrote in a statement to Deadline. “I Did Not Want To See Corny People Singin’ And Dancin’. I Instead Wanted To Play With My Friends On Da Block, Stoop Ball, Stick Ball, Punch Ball, Soft Ball, Basketball, 2 Hand Touch, Tackle Football, Coco Leevio, Johnny On Da Pony, Hot Peas And Butter, Crack Top, Down Da Sewer And Of Course-Booty’s Up. All The Great New York City Street Games That Might Be Sadly Lost Forever. My Father, Bill Lee, Jazz/Folk Bassist,Composer HATED HollyWeird Movies, Henceforth And What Not, Me Being The Eldest Of 5 Children I Became Mommy’s Movie Date. She Was A Cinefile. Thank You Lawdy She Didn’t Listen To My Ongoing Complaints About Musicals. So Finally Going Into My 4th Decade As A Filmmaker I Will Be Directing A DANCIN’,ALL SINGIN’ MUSICAL Spike Lee Joint And I Can’t Wait. My Moms Has Been Waiting TOO!!! And Dats Da Rodgers And Hammerstein Truth, Ruth.”
In addition to co-writing and directing his next joint, Lee will produce the untitled musical via his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks banner alongside Matt Jackson via his Jackson Pictures production banner, while the latter’s Joanne Lee and David Kushner are attached as executive producers.
RELATED: CS Video: Da 5 Bloods Interview With Spike Lee!
The film’s original songs and music will be penned by acclaimed songwriting team Mark “Stew” Stewart and Heidi Rodewald, the creative team behind the Tony-winning musical Passing Strange, which Lee directed a performance of in 2008 and premiered in 2009.
(Photo Credit: Jon Kopaloff/WireImage)
