Ryan Coogler, renowned for directing “Black Panther,” is currently developing a jukebox musical film that will feature the legendary music of Prince. This exciting project is being produced for Universal Pictures and has been in development since 2018. Bryan Edward Hill, known for his work on comic books such as “Kilmonger” and “Ultimate Black Panther,” is on board as the scriptwriter.
The production team includes Coogler himself, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian from Proximity Media, with Rebecca Cho taking on the role of executive producer. Additionally, Atom Factory’s Troy Carter and Jody Gerson, chair of Universal Music Publishing Group, are also producing, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
As of now, specific details about the movie, including its title, director, and cast, remain under wraps.
In other news, Coogler is also working on an untitled film with Warner Bros., starring Michael B. Jordan, set for release in March 2025. This marks Coogler’s first film since the release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in 2022. Coogler and Jordan have previously collaborated on several successful projects, including “Fruitvale Station” in 2013, “Creed” in 2015, and “Black Panther” in 2018.
In January, it was announced that Prince’s iconic “Purple Rain” film and soundtrack are being adapted into a stage musical. The adaptation will feature music by Prince, with a script by Pulitzer Prize-finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who is currently enjoying the Broadway run of his drama “Appropriate.”
The script for the stage adaptation will draw from the original “Purple Rain” screenplay, penned by Albert Magnoli (who also directed the film) and William Blinn. The stage version will be directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, a 2022 Tony nominee for best direction of a play (“The Skin of Our Teeth”), with Tony winner Orin Wolf overseeing production duties.