Chris Rock will direct a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr.

Chris Rock, the renowned comedian and actor known for the incident involving a slap from Will Smith during last year’s Oscar ceremony, is gearing up for a new cinematic adventure as a director. His next challenge will see him helming a biopic. The biopic is dedicated to one of the most important figures in American history: civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.

The film

Produced by Universal Pictures, the film will draw inspiration from the biography titled “King: A Life,” penned by the renowned journalist Jonathan Eig. This book was released in May in the United States, achieving considerable success and even earning a nomination for the National Book Award. It’s narrative offers an intimate portrayal of King as a courageous individual, yet emotionally troubled. He champions the cause of peaceful protests, grappling with his personal vulnerabilities and a government that relentlessly pursued him. The primary source for this book was the new revelations disclosed by the FBI concerning Luther King Jr.

Steven Spielberg, one of Hollywood’s great masters, will join the project as an executive producer through his esteemed production and distribution company, Amblin Partners. Alongside him will be Kristie Macosko, a longtime collaborator of Spielberg. She has been nominated for Oscars twice and has been involved in successful biographical projects such as “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and the highly anticipated “Maestro.”

Currently, there is no news regarding who will write the screenplay for the film or who will portray the role of Martin Luther King Jr. and other key characters.

Chris Rock as a director

It is worth noting that, despite being primarily known as a comedic actor, Chris Rock has already demonstrated his directorial skills. In 2003, he made his directorial debut with “Head of State”, a comedy that tells the story of an apparently ordinary presidential candidate. Subsequently, he directed several episodes of the popular TV series “Everybody Hates Chris,” in which he also lent his voice as a narrator. In addition to these projects, he directed various comedy specials and even a music video for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Among his other directorial works are “Top Five” in 2014 and “I Think I Love My Wife” in 2007, the latter co-written by notable figures like Louis C.K. and Éric Rohmer. This latter film is an American remake of the French film “L’Amour l’après-midi” directed by Rohmer.

It’s worth noting that Chris Rock also appeared in the Netflix film titled “Rustin,” where he portrayed the role of activist Roy Wilkins. This film is based on the true story of Bayard Rustin. He was another significant activist who played a pivotal role in organizing the historic March on Washington led by Luther King Jr.