With James Brown biopic Get On Up finally moving under director Tate Taylor, the Help director is gathering the cast he needs. He’s just hired Lennie James alongside True Blood’s Nelsan Ellis.
Jez and John Henry Butterworth wrote the film, which will follow Brown’s true-life story from a childhood in poverty in Georgia to his ascension as the Godfather of Soul. 42** star Chadwick Boseman is playing Brown with Taylor’s Help stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer as members of his family. James is set to join to play Brown’s father.
Producer Brian Grazer has been trying to get this one going for years, and has at last found a team who seem able to get it to the screen. The film’s deal includes the rights to iconic Brown tracks such as ‘Please, Please, Please’ and ‘I Got You (I Feel Good).’
As well as roles in the likes of Colombiana and Lockout, James has been seen a lot on TV lately with guest appearances on The Walking Dead and a starring role in the US remake of Low Winter Sun alongside Mark Strong.