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Acclaimed filmmaker Barry Jenkins didn't take long to find his next project after Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King. Jenkins has come on board to direct A24's upcoming biopic about the life of singer Ronnie Spector.

According to Deadline, A24 has been developing the project since 2022. Before her passing, Spector was set to be an executive producer on the biopic and hand-selected Zendaya to play her. Zendaya, who is coming off a strong 2024 thanks to Challengers and Dune: Part Two, has reportedly been wanting to work with Jenkins for some time now and vice versa. Dave Kajganich has been tapped to write an original screenplay that will "immerse audiences in what the singer’s life with the troubled producer Phil Spector felt like rather than a traditional cradle-to-the-grave biopic."

Who Is Ronnie Spector?

A24 has acquired Spector's life rights as well as rights to her 1990 memoir Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara,...

Multiplatinum recording artist Lizzo is gearing up to play the role of a lifetime. The Grammy award-winning artist will tell the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Amazon MGM Studios's Rosetta. The "Truth Hurts" singer will play Thorpe and produce the project in development with Kevin Beisler, Significant Productions' Nina Yang Bongiovi, and Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker.

Dubbed the "Godmother of Rock N' Roll," Sister Rosetta Tharpe was the first great recording star of gospel music, garnering attention from Rhythm & Blues and Rock N' Roll audiences after gaining popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. A crucial part of her early success came from her powerful voice and ability to combine genres effortlessly while playing the guitar with her own unique techniques. Tharpe influenced musical legends such as Tina Turner, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and more.

With a life full of historical accomplishments, love and challenges, the film...

We’ve got some exciting news out of Hollywood today, courtesy of Deadline. Lizzo, the four-time Grammy winner, is set to take on a major role in a new movie about the legendary Sister Rosetta Tharpe. This isn’t just any project—it’s a biopic called ‘Rosetta,’ and it’s being developed by Amazon MGM Studios. I can already feel the energy this pairing is going to bring to the screen.

Tharpe, often called the ‘Godmother of Rock and Roll,’ was a gospel singer who broke barriers in the 1930s and ’40s. She mixed her faith-filled music with a guitar style that shaped rock as we know it, influencing icons like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. The film plans to dive into a key chapter of her life, full of bold creativity and personal struggles. Picture this—she’s pushing musical limits, hiding a forbidden romance with another woman,...

Four-time Grammy Award winner Lizzo is officially going Hollywood as one of the world's most popular artists is set to star as a legendary musician in new music biopic for Amazon MGM Studios.

Per Variety, Lizzo is set to star as legendary musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the film, Rosetta, from producers Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, and Kevin Beisler. In addition to starring in the film, Lizzo will also serve as a producer. Natalie Chaidez and Kwynn Perry (Tigerbelles) serve as writers for the movie, however, no director is attached to the project yet. Tharpe rose to prominence as a gospel singer in the 1930s and would become a major influence for many rock & roll artists including Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry.

According to an official description for the film, Rosetta "captures a pivotal period in her life — one of groundbreaking innovation, defiant passion, and secret love. As she...

Lizzo is set to play rock & roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in a new film in development by Amazon MGM Studios, per Deadline.

A brilliant guitarist and singer, Tharpe was a major influence to scores of rockers, including Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan. “A queer black woman from Arkansas who shredded on electric guitar, belted praises both to God and secular pleasures, and broke the color line touring with white singers, she was gospel’s first superstar, and she most assuredly rocked,” wrote Rolling Stone...

It’s about damn time! Someone is finally making a movie about Rosetta Tharpe, the gospel singer who transcended the art form to become one of Rock’ n’ Roll and R&b’s most influential pioneers. The biographical project hails from Amazon MGM Studios, with four-time Grammy award winner Lizzo (Hustlers) shredding the electric guitar to play Rosetta.

In addition to her starring role, Lizzo is producing the film with Kevin Beisler, Significant Productions’ Nina Yang Bongiovi, and Forest Whitaker. Natalie Chaidez and Kwynn Perry are writing the script, focusing on the life and times of Rosetta Tharpe, the mother of Rock’ n’ Roll. Simply put, there would be no Rock ‘n’ Roll without Tharpe’s influence. She inspired icons like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and innumerable others to set fire to strings and give their souls to the musical art form.

Actual events inspire Lizzo’s Rosetta movie,...

One of the earliest influencers of Rock & Roll is getting a biopic based on her life and has a big name pop star set to portray her. Lizzo will play Sister Rosetta Tharpe in a musical biopic based on Tharpe’s life, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.

The film, titled “Rosetta,” is currently in development for Amazon MGM Studios, and Lizzo is also producing the project alongside Kevin Beisler, as well as Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker for their banner Significant Productions. The film will be written by Natalie Chaidez and Kwynn Perry. No director is attached.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe began her career in the ’30s with her gospel recordings and gained popularity by the ’40s, one of the first to blend gospel sounds with the electric guitar. But she became a true trailblazer who inspired countless rock legends, including Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard,...

Lizzois set to make her big-screen starring debut. She's signed on to star in Rosetta, a new biopic of Sister Rosetta Tharp, the groundbreaking musician known as the Queen of Rock and Roll. Deadline reports that Lizzo will produce the film for Amazon MGM Studios, as well.

Lizzo, the Grammy-winning musician born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, will star in the film as Tharp, who was born in 1915 and became a sensation in the 1930s and 40s as a gospel singer. She was one of the first musicians to popularize the electric guitar, and was a key figure in the creation of what would become rock and roll. Rock legends like Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and Tina Turner cited her as an influence on their musicianship, and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. However, she remains a somewhat obscure figure among the public: Rosetta will be...

Lizzo has been cast in a new biopic from Amazon MGM Studios exploring the life of legendary rock pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The film, currently titled Rosetta, is in development with Lizzo co-producing alongside Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, and Kevin Beisler, the last of whom led 2022’s Lizzo: Live In Concert.

Tharpe is known as the first great icon of gospel music, and her work on electric guitar notably laid the foundation for what would become rock n’ roll. Her influence was noted by artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry. According to Deadline, the film zeroes in on a specific period in Tharpe’s life and will explore the ways she defied expectations and forged her own path, both in her music and in her personal life.

The movie is moving forward under Significant Productions, a company known for championing emerging talent and yielding films like...

Lizzo has been cast in a new biopic from Amazon MGM Studios exploring the life of legendary rock pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The film, currently titled Rosetta, is in development with Lizzo co-producing alongside Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, and Kevin Beisler, the last of whom led 2022’s Lizzo: Live In Concert.

Tharpe is known as the first great icon of gospel music, and her work on electric guitar notably laid the foundation for what would become rock n’ roll. Her influence was noted by artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry. According to Deadline, the film zeroes in on a specific period in Tharpe’s life and will explore the ways she defied expectations and forged her own path, both in her music and in her personal life.

The movie is moving forward under Significant Productions, a company known for championing emerging talent and yielding films like...

Lizzo is attached to star in a biopic movie about Rosetta Tharpe.

Rosetta is currently in development at Amazon MGM Studios with a script from Natalie Chaidez (The Flight Attendant) and Kwynn Perry (Tigerbelles). A director is not yet attached.

Producers on the project include Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker for Significant Productions, alongside Lizzo and Kevin Beisler.

Tharpe was a gospel singer who gained prominence in the 1930s and ’40s and has been dubbed the “Godmother of rock and roll.”

The film centers on a key period in Tharpe’s life when she was receiving acclaim for her guitar sound and preparing for a major concert, marking the first-ever stadium show in music history, while also having to hide her love for another woman.

Lizzo is a four-time Grammy winner who appeared in the 2019 film Hustlers. She starred in the Emmy-winning Amazon series Watch Out for the Big...

Exclusive: Four-time Grammy winner Lizzo will be taking up the guitar to play Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the gospel singer who was one of the first to appeal to rock ‘n’ roll and R&b audiences, in Amazon MGM Studios’ Rosetta.

The project is in development with Lizzo, Kevin Beisler, Significant Productions’ Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker producing. Natalie Chaidez and Kwynn Perry are writing the screenplay.

Without Tharpe, there would be no rock n’ roll. Her influence on popular music spans decades and includes Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and countless others. Inspired by true events, the film will capture a pivotal period in Thrape’s life — one of groundbreaking innovation, defiant passion and secret love. As she shatters musical boundaries with her signature guitar sound, she must navigate societal constraints, conceal her love...

The Max Original concert special Lizzo: Live In Concert debuts Saturday, December 31. Produced by Done+Dusted, Lizzo: Live In Concert was filmed during singer, songwriter, rapper, flutist and actress Lizzo’s The Special Tour earlier this month at the iconic Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA. Lizzo: Live In Concert is the culmination of her deeply personal documentary “Love, Lizzo,” which debuts tomorrow, Thursday, November 24 on HBO Max.

Logline: Celebrate the new year with Emmy® and three-time Grammy-winning superstar Lizzo, her band The Lizzbians and The Little Bigs, The Big Grrrls with special guests Cardi B, Sza and Missy Elliott for a spectacular show filled with lots of love, positivity and incredible music.

Credits: Directed by Sam Wrench and produced by Kevin Beisler. Lizzo is executive producing with her production company Lizzobangers. Executive producing for Done+Dusted is Ian Stewart, Leah Lane and Hamish Hamilton.

Click here to read the full article.

Fresh off taking home the Video for Good award at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Lizzo is now celebrating another win — this time at the 2022 Emmys.

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls won the Emmy for best competition program on Monday night, marking the Grammy-winning musician’s first Emmy. The program was nominated alongside The Amazing Race (CBS), Nailed It! (Netflix), RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Voice (NBC)

After taking the stage at Monday night’s show, the creator, executive producer and host of Amazon’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls exclaimed, “I’m very emotional. The trophy is nice, but my emotion is for these people who are on the stage with me. The stories that they shared, they’re not that unique. They just don’t get the platform. Telling stories, let’s just tell more stories,...

Lizzo gave a stirring speech on stage after winning the Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program.

The pop star’s Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls was somewhat of a surprise winner in the category, which had previously seen RuPaul’s Drag Race win the award four times in a row, every year since 2018.

The Amazon reality series, which follows the pop mega-star as she searches for a new squad of backup dancers to join her world tour, also beat The Amazing Race, Nailed It!, Top Chef and The Voice as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Deadline’s Emmy Awards Live Blog

Lizzo said she was very “emotional” as she bounded on stage.

“The trophy is nice but my emotion is for these people who are on the stage with me. The stories that they shared are not that unique that just don’t get the platform. Let’s tell more stories,...

Party tonight for the fluffy ladies! Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls earned an Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Competition category after its freshman season on Prime Video.

The eight-episode Amazon Original unscripted series follows the pop mega-star as she searches for a new squad of backup dancers to join her world tour. It premiered in March and was made available in other countries and territories around the world in May.

2022 Emmy Nominations: Deadline’s Complete Coverage

The new program earned a total of six nominations.

Lizzo gets help in the search from choreographers Tanisha Scott and O.G. Big Grrrls Chawnta’ Marie Van, Shirlene Quigley, and Grace Holden.

Emmy Snubs: ‘Reservation Dogs’, Selena Gomez, ‘Yellowstone’, ‘This Is Us’ & More

In addition to appearing in the series, Lizzo also serves as executive producer alongside Makiah Green, Kevin Beisler, Julie Pizzi, Farnaz Farjam, Myiea Coy, Kimberly Goodman and Glenda Cox.

An untitled documentary about Grammy-winning artist Lizzo is coming to HBO Max this fall, she announced at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront on Wednesday, while unveiling the first teaser of the film. The doc will follow the singer, songwriter, rapper, flutist and actor from her humble beginnings to her history-making career in music and culture, as she balances the challenges of stardom.

“Growing up I never dreamed I’d get to experience all of the things I’ve accomplished in my life, and I’m just getting started,” Lizzo said in a statement. “I’m so excited I get to share and relive my journey with my fans and HBO Max. From ‘Cuz I Love You’ to my dramatic world tour, losing and gaining love, and creating my new album ‘Special,’ y’all get to see the amount of time, patience, blood, sweat and tears that went into this process.

HBO Max has lined up a documentary on music superstar Lizzo for the fall.

Currently untitled, the doc charts the Grammy winner’s rise to fame, and becoming an influential superstar.

“To get the chance to work with someone we have admired and adored for so long is a dream come true. Lizzo’s formidable talent has entertained and inspired millions, and we are ecstatic to help share her incredible journey,” Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max, said in a statement.

Here’s the logline: “Every once in a while, an artist changes not only music, but culture as well. Lizzo has done both. This is the journey of a trailblazing superstar who has become the movement the world desperately needed just by being herself. The HBO Max documentary shares the inspirational story behind her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise with an intimate look into the moments...

All the rumors are true: Lizzo’s dance competition series, titled “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” is premiering on Amazon Prime Video next month.

The eight-episode unscripted show, which is Lizzo’s first project as part of her first-look deal with Amazon Studios, will premiere on the streaming service March 25.

According to the series’ official logline, it follows “global superstar and icon Lizzo, who is on the hunt for confident, bad-ass women to join the elite ranks of the Big Grrrls and join her world tour. With 10 hopeful women moving into the Big Grrrls House, they must prove they have what it takes to make it to the end and join Lizzo in front of a global audience on the center stage.”

“Girls like me don’t get representation,” Lizzo says in the trailer. “It’s time to roll up my sleeves and find them myself.”

Choreographer...