Jill Scott signs on to play gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson in a new biopic produced by Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah
Jill Scott is returning to the big screen to portray gospel music icon Mahalia Jackson in a new and biopic.
The 48-year-old actress has signed on to star in Mahalia!, which will be executive produced by Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah, according to Deadline.
The project is based on the biography Mahalia Jackson by Darlene Donloe, with Latifah’s partner Shakim Compere and Holly Carter (Clark Sisters) also executive producing.
Biopic: Jill Scott is returning to the big screen to portray gospel music icon Mahalia Jackson in a new and biopic
Producers: The 48-year-old actress has signed on to star in Mahalia!, which will be executive produced by Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah, according to Deadline
Last week, Lifetime set up a TV movie under their partnership with journalist Robin Roberts, with Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black) set to play Jackson.
However this big-screen biopic, which isn’t set up at a studio quite yet, has the distinct advantage of securing the rights to Jackson’s entire musical library.
Her collection of hits includes songs such as ‘How I Got Over,’ ‘His Eyes Are on the Sparrow,’ ‘Move on Up a Little Higher,’ ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Go Tell It On the Mountain.’
Singer: Her collection of hits includes songs such as ‘How I Got Over,’ ‘His Eyes Are on the Sparrow,’ ‘Move on Up a Little Higher,’ ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Go Tell It On the Mountain’
Jackson became one of the most influential (and wealthiest) artists of her time, who served as a mentor to Aretha Franklin while also credited as providing inspiration for Martin Luther King’s iconic I Have a Dream.
Born from an impoverished section of New Orleans in 1911, Jackson rose to become known as the Queen of Gospel Music, releasing 30 hit albums and the first gospel singer ever to perform at Carnegie Hall.
She also contributing greatly to the civil rights movement, with Harry Belafonte once calling her, ‘the single most powerful black woman in the United States.’
Influential: Jackson became one of the most influential (and wealthiest) artists of her time, who served as a mentor to Aretha Franklin while also credited as providing inspiration for Martin Luther King’s iconic I Have a Dream
‘This is such an incredibly important story to tell and we’re thrilled to work with Jamie on the project,’ Queen Latifah said in a statement.
‘Shakim and I are also looking forward to reteaming with our Clark Sisters producing partner, Holly Carter, to share Mahalia’s inspiring journey to becoming the Queen of Gospel music,’ she continued.
Carter added, ‘I am beyond grateful to be able to partner with Latifah and Shakim again and equally excited that Jamie has joined the team. Much like The Clark Sisters, is another epic story of faith that is driven by powerful and uplifting music. I believe Ms. Scott was a God-send and will be absolute perfection in the lead role.’
Important: ‘This is such an incredibly important story to tell and we’re thrilled to work with Jamie on the project,’ Queen Latifah said in a statement
Jackson passed away in 1972 at the age of 60 from heart failure and complications from diabetes.
Richard Hocutt, Mark Gould and Tricia Woodgett wrote the screenplay for Mahalia! though there is no director attached at this time.
Scott most recently played Lady Eve on The CW’s Black Lightning, and she will next be seen as Maw Belle in director Michael Jai White’s The Outlaw Johnny Black.
Coming soon: Scott most recently played Lady Eve on The CW’s Black Lightning, and she will next be seen as Maw Belle in director Michael Jai White’s The Outlaw Johnny Black