'Otis & Zelma': John Boyega and Danielle Deadwyler will star in Otis Redding biopic

The life of the soul legend, Otis Reddingwill hit the big screen with the biographical film Otis & Zelma.

The leading roles have already been confirmed. John Boyega (The Woman King, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) will play Otis, while Danielle Deadwyler (Till, Station Eleven) will play his widow, Zelma Redding.

Fifth Season, Homegrown Pictures and Kinkolf Management + Media will produce the feature film, according to reports from Variety.

Channing Godfrey Peoples will direct the biopic “tells the life of Otis Redding, considered one of the most influential singer-songwriters of our eracon éxitos imborrables como “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”, “Try a Little Tenderness”, “Respect”, “These Arms of Mine”, “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” y “Hard to Handle”. Redding's burgeoning superstar career was tragically cut short when he died in a plane crash in 1967, leaving behind Zelma and three young children. I was 26 years old.”

Donnetta Lavinia Grays (Y: The Last Man, Manhunt, Joe vs. Carole) wrote the script, with revisions by Godfrey Peoples. As director, Godfrey Peoples made the acclaimed feature film Miss Juneteenthwhich marked her directorial debut in that format, and was in charge of episodes of the series Roar, Genius y Genera+ion.

A first synopsis explains:

“The film celebrates the 10 short years that Otis and Zelma were together, and their eternal love story after her death. Zelma’s resilience and determination to preserve her musical legacy over the past 56 years drives her, as much as Otis’ love for Zelma drove him.”

The film project has the full support of Zelma Redding and the estate of Otis Redding. This Friday, October 4, Otis Redding will posthumously receive a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Stephanie Allain and Arron Saxe are producers, with Claire Brooks, Boyega and Deadwyler serving as executive producers.