The last time Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer worked with Tate Taylor, in the director’s 2011 hit “The Help,” they both earned Oscar nominations, with the latter taking home the trophy to put on her mantle. So is it any surprise, that they may jump at the opportunity to work with the filmmaker again?
The Wrap reports that both Davis and Spencer are being eyed for roles in his forthcoming James Brown biopic, which landed “42” star Chadwick Boseman in the lead last night. The site stresses that no offers have been made, nor has it been revealed what roles they are being sought for. But there are plenty of parts to fill as the Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (“Fair Game“) penned the script will track Brown’s rise from a poor Georgia youth to a music sensation, and chart-topping R&B star, with planned appearances by actors playing Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Little Richard among others.
If it all comes through, it would remarkably be the sixth time Spencer and Taylor are credited together. He directed her in his little seen feature “Pretty Ugly People,” they both worked as actors in “Wannabe,” “The Journeyman” and “Breakin’ All The Rules” and they were both assistants on “A Time To Kill,” in which Spencer also had a role. That’s quite the history. As for the James Brown flick, it starts production this fall. 09/30/13: Deadline updates that it’s a go with all parties involved and it’s now called, “Get On Up.”