Big name biopics are all the rage these days, with Martin Scorsese announcing a Frank Sinatra biopic last week, and now Variety tells us Steven Spielberg will help bring the story of Martin Luther King Jr. to the big screen, too. The more iconic the figure, the tougher the biopic, and this could be the case with Martin Luther King Jr. – whose family granted permission for producers to utilize King’s intellectual property (like his "I Have a Dream" speech) for the first time on this project.
Spielberg, who’s also been working on his long-rumored Abraham Lincoln biopic, will produce the King film and so far there’s no mention of him directing it as well. But why bring King’s story to the big screen now? What’s so special about this time versus 10 years from now or five years ago? Dreamworks co-chairman Stacey Snider says, "The answer lies in MLK's own words: 'All progress is precarious.' With every step forward, new obstacles emerge and we must never forget that his life and his teachings continue to challenge us every day to stand up to hatred and inequality."
Which project would you like to see Spielberg direct: The Abraham Lincoln or the Martin Luther King Jr.? And who could you see playing Martin Luther King Jr.? (Ahem, my vote goes to Ving Rhames.) Sound off below…
