CINEMA
Eddie Murphy to play P-Funk godfather George Clinton in new biopic
Rumor has it that the Beverly Hills Cop star is lined up to take the role of the leader of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective - Dr Funkenstein himself, George Clinton.
The wheels are in motion for a biopic detailing the fantastical life of one of music’s most colorful characters - the leader of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective - Dr Funkenstein himself, George Clinton.
Bill Condon will take on director duties for the as yet untitled movie for Amazon MGM Studios and Eddie Murphy will play the innovative trailblazer Clinton, whose music has influenced generations and at the latest count, sampled close to three thousand times by the likes of Massive Attack, Fat Boy Slim, Primal Scream, Warren G...
Clinton masterminded and invented P-Funk - taking the style of funk popularized by James Brown, Sly Stone to new levels with a hybrid of acid-rock guitar, psychedelic and often humorous lyrics, laid down to groovy Bootsy Collins bass lines.
Clinton confirmed the news on his social media platforms, Instagram and X - he will executive produce the film, providing vital information about crazy times in the studio and on the road - the bits he can still remember.
Joyful process
Clinton’s prolific career began in the 60s with doo-wap band The Parliaments, and the movie will look back to those early days, through to the formation of Parliament, Funkadelic and the Atomic Dog solo years, right up to the music both he and Bootsy are making now (he collaborated with Erick The Architect earlier this year).
Very few details have emerged about the biopic although according to Deadline Virgil Williams has been commissioned to come up with a script, based on Max Werner’s original draft and Clinton’s own hilarious memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You? published in 2014.
The film will also bring together Murphy with Condon who have worked together in the past. Murphy starred alongside Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé in Dreamgirls - a fictional movie based on Berry Gordy’s Motown label and The Supremes.
Others who knew or worked with Clinton such as saxophonist Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley (who defected from the JBs to join Funkadelic), Ruth Copeland, Sly Stone and Bootsy could also collaborate or make appearances.
Davis, Greg Yolen, and Murphy’s and John Davis’ own production companies will produce the film. Clinton, 83, will executive produce the film alongside Charisse Hewitt-Webster, Archie Ivy, and Jeff Jampol.
As for Murphy, his last film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, went on general release over the summer. He is set to star in The Pickup with Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson and Shrek 5.