Star Wars actor John Boyega will appear alongside Till‘s Danielle Deadwyler in a biopic following the iconic career and tragic demise of soul artist Otis Redding. The film, titled Otis & Zelma, was announced just a few days before Redding’s posthumous reception of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — a ceremony that is set to occur this Friday on October 4th.
Directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples, an up-and-coming American filmmaker whose debut project Miss Juneteenth received critical acclaim, the Redding biopic will follow the singer-songwriter’s short but star-studded career, as well as the incredible resilience of his widowed wife, Zelma (via Variety). Redding’s powerful legacy includes hits like “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Respect,” and “Try a Little Tenderness,” but the artist’s life was tragically lost in a 1967 plane crash. He was only 26 years old at the time of his death, survived by his wife of only nine years, and their three children.
The biopic reportedly has the full support of Zelma and the Redding estate, and will also highlight Zelma’s efforts to preserve her husband’s legacy. Fifth Season is producing the film, with Happy! actress Donetta Lavinia Grays writing the script, and Boyega and Deadwyler both serving as executive producers.
An Illustrious Cast Celebrates Singer-Songwriter Otis Redding
Although best known for his breakout role as Finn in the Star Wars sequel series, Boyega has also lent his talents to a number of smaller — but no less impactful — projects, many of which center Black voices and marginalized experiences. His repertoire includes Gina Prince Bythewood’s action-adventure film about an all-female group of warriors in West Africa, titled The Woman King, and Abi Damaris Corbin’s Breaking, a thriller drama based on a true story about a Marine veteran who robs a bank out of financial desperation. Boyega’s experience with so many genres demonstrates his undeniable ability to tackle a wide range of characters, while also showcasing the kinds of stories he prefers to tell.
Deadwyler, meanwhile, has a slightly different but no less diverse portfolio. Her most prominent role comes from Till, a 2022 masterpiece from Chinonye Chukwu which follows the activism and incredible strength of Emmett Till’s mother after the hate crime that led to her son’s death. However, Deadwyler has also flexed her skills in projects like The Harder They Fall, an American Western with an all-Black cast, and the HBO miniseries Station Eleven, a dystopian examination of life after a brutal pandemic. This year, Deadwyler will star alongside Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu in the critically acclaimed The Piano Lesson, which is due to be released in select theaters in the United States on November 8, 2024, before landing on Netflix on November 22.
A truly dynamic duo led by the phenomenal Channing Godfrey Peoples, there’s no doubt that Boyega and Deadwyler will honor Redding’s legacy in the upcoming biopic, passing down his music to another generation of soul-seekers.