• NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from Blues Scene about music & art.

Exclusive Premiere: MEM_MODS Create Cinematic Suspense in ‘Midtown Miscommunication’

February 6, 2023

High Moon Records Unveils First-Ever Anthology From Singer-Songwriter Laurie Styvers

February 3, 2023

Exclusive: Sarah Rogo Premieres Video for ‘All of These Things Must Die’ From New Concept Album

February 3, 2023

Jefferson Berry Shares His ‘Dreams of Modern Living’

February 2, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
  • NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
Home»News»BB King Biopic Will Star Wendell Pierce
News

BB King Biopic Will Star Wendell Pierce

JD NashBy JD NashOctober 23, 2020Updated:October 26, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

We are official. Preparation has begun on a film where I will be honored to play the great, BB King. Humbled.

So read the tweet from actor Wendell Pierce on Monday. The biopic The Thrill is On was originally titled B.B. King and I when the project was first announced in 2011. The film portrays the relationship between BB King and friend Michael Zanetis, who assisted in getting King his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Pierce was slated to play King from the start before a string of bad luck befell Zanetis and the project. There was a short-lived, then dropped lawsuit, regarding the use of King’s name and the producer’s First Amendment Right to use it. “So rather than drag my dear friend through unnecessary litigation, I changed the name to The Thrill Is On and I dismissed my case,” says Zanetis.

Then there was the completely unrelated Delta Groove case, where founder Randy Chortkoff and two co-defendants were convicted on multiple criminal felony fraud charges, including cheating investors of over $1,400,000 in a phony movie investment scam. Chortkoff’s activity had absolutely nothing to do with Zanetis’ project, but it did make potential backers incredibly gun shy about investing in a film at that time.

The revived film project is the same one from 2011, with Zanetis producing the movie and co-writing the script with Melora Donoghue. “We’re proud to have an actor of Wendell’s caliber attached to portray this beloved icon,” Zanetis said in a statement. “His dedication to his craft and love of music will combine in what I believe will be a career defining performance.”

Pierce is best known for his performances in The Wire, and HBO’s Treme, in the latter of which he learned to play trombone for the part. Beginning in 2016 Pierce also began appearing on several albums recorded in his hometown of New Orleans, including those by Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Wynton Marsalis, and others.

King, who died in 2015 at the age of 89, spent over 70 years as a professional blues musician, recording 43 albums, winning 15 GRAMMY awards, and was among the first class inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980. His honorary title of “King of the Blues” was well earned.

In a later tweet Pierce added:

I promised BB King before he died, I will honor him and his creative genius. An American Icon.

The Thrill is On

Wendell Pierce Twitter

BB King

*Feature image Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP

BB King Biopic The Thrill Is On Wendell Pierce
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleJoe Bonamassa on the British Influences That Shaped ‘Royal Tea,’ Out Today
Next Article Arlo Guthrie Has ‘Gone Fishing’
JD Nash

JD Nash is the former host of Blues Influence on WREN radio and current editor-in-chief of American Blues Scene.

Related Posts

High Moon Records Unveils First-Ever Anthology From Singer-Songwriter Laurie Styvers

February 3, 2023

Full Winners List for 2023 International Folk Music Awards

February 2, 2023

New Orleans Suspects and Sol Roots Perform at The Hamilton Live

February 1, 2023

Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison, Adrian Belew Announce Additional 2023 ‘Remain In Light’ Tour Dates

January 31, 2023

Comments are closed.

Advertisment
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Videos
  • About

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.