One of the best guys in the business, Mr. Bill Condon has selected his next project after achieving great success with this year's "Kinsey". The man behind "Gods and Monsters" and who penned the Oscar-winning adaptation of "Chicago" has combined his love of bopics and musicals into one and selected to write and direct an adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" according to today's Variety.
"Dreamgirls" is a thinly veiled story of the rise of Diana Ross and the Supremes during the formative years of Motown Records, and basically follows a trio of young black female singers who strive to cross over to the white-dominated pop charts in the early '60s. The film will retain Tom Eyen's book and lyrics and Henry Krieger's music.
Condon has penned the first draft of the script so far and is expected to head into production in the late Summer or early Fall. As David Geffen owns the screen rights, DreamWorks will handle the film with Warner Bros. possibly co-financing. They expect to cast a current singing star as one of the trio, whilst a big star looks likely for the role of Curtis Taylor Jr., the Svengali who discovers singing group the Dreams and guides them to fame.
Thanks to 'JM'.
