Lee Daniels and Tyrese Resurrect Teddy Pendergrass

If there were ever a person that earned the adjective “busy,” it’s Lee Daniels. Every time you turn around he has a new project on the burner. We like to think of this sort of hyper-productivity as a gay trait, and who knows, maybe science will find the genetic marker for it soon enough, but probably not before Daniels produces the upcoming biopic about R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass. The sexy, soulful singer’s biggest hit, 1978’s “Close The Door,” is a perfect example of his baby-making slow jams, and will be sung (lip-synced?) in the film by none other than Fast and Furious star Tyrese Gibson, who’ll star as the tumultuous Pendergrass. Widow Joan Pendergrass will executive produce, and Little Marvin, creator of Amazon’s series Them, will pen the script. Now, will Tyrese’s beard game be strong enough to make us think it’s Daddy Bear Teddy we’re watching? Because that’s the biggest question on our minds right now.

Glenn Close and Sunset Boulevard’s next close-up

Dear Patti LuPone fans, please don’t be too disappointed that the upcoming film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard will star Glenn Close. Close is, after all, a Tony Award winner for her turn as silent-movie-star-turned-problematic-person Norma Desmond, and she can knock out those ALW tunes just as powerfully, so let’s all agree that there are no losers here. Choreographer-turned-director Rob Ashford (The Sound of Music Live!) will handle the film with a screenplay by BAFTA-nominated writer Tom MacRae (threesome). For you young people, the project is an adaptation of the classic, Academy Award-winning Billy Wilder film about a delusional former star clinging to the hope of returning to the silver screen, and the young writer who enters her strange world. The production has a scheduled October start date and 2020 release planned, so Close still has another shot at that elusive Oscar the Academy keeps on not giving her.

Romeo San Vicente’s loves both Patti and Glenn

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By Romeo San Vicente

5 years ago

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