In 2015, Tyrese threw in the towel on his music career after the release of his final album Black Rose. Now, after a four-year hiatus, the singer/actor is venturing back into music realm to play R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass in an upcoming biopic.
According to Deadline, Warner Bros Pictures has acquired the life rights of Pendergrass to bring this film to the silver screen. The outlet also reported Little Marvin is writing the script, while Donald De Line (Ready Player One) will produce the picture with support from Lee Daniels (Empire, The Butler, Precious) and Gibson via Voltron Pictures. In addition, Pendergrass’ widow, Joan Pendergrass, will serve as an executive producer.
Raised by a single mother in Philadelphia, Pendergrass burst on the scene in the early ’70s as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. He later made headlines as a solo act, scoring platinum and gold success with multiple albums and also claiming a number one hit for “Close the Door.” But his career took an unexpected turn in 1982 after he was involved in a near-fatal car crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down.
Despite his accident, Pendergrass never lost his love for music. After intense therapy, Pendergrass regained his ability to sing and made a triumphant return to the stage at the historic Live Aid Concert at Wembley Stadium in London in 1985. He continued performing for two decades, before announcing his retirement in 2007. Two years later, Pendergrass died from colon cancer.
Speaking on the upcoming role, Gibson shared a beautiful message on Instagram. “[I am] honored to take this journey,” he said. “This is a role that I feel I was born to play. Teddy Pendergrass embraced me and before died he put the responsibility on my shoulders to tell his story.”
He continued, “So, of course being here in this time, space and moment to take this journey with another Philadelphia legend and genius director Lee Daniels, Donald De Line, Little Marvin and Kevin McCormick at Warner Bros is an answered prayer all in itself. Teddy, I hope we make you, your wife and family proud.”
In other acting news, Gibson is starring in Black & Blue for Song Screen Gems. He has signed on for other major productions, including Fast and the Furious 9 and Daniel’s Fox series
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