Timbaland has signed on as a songwriter and song producer for the Fox pilot Empire. The show is created by Lee Daniels (The Butler, Precious) and Danny Strong (Game Change, The Butler) and stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson The drama is set in the world of a hip hop-empire and follows a charismatic, savvy music superstar who is about to take his company, Empire Entertainment, public. Daniels and Strong are also executive producing the 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Entertainment production with Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, 24) and Francie Calfo.
Tag: Lee Daniels
‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ Soundtrack Announced
Verve International will release a soundtrack album for the drama Lee Daniels’ The Butler. The album features the film’s original score composed by Rodrigo Leão. The soundtrack will be released digitally on August 20, 2013 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Check out audio clips after the jump. The Butler is directed by Lee Daniels (Precious) and stars Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, David Oyelowo, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber and Robin Williams. The movie scripted by Danny Strong tells the story of Eugene Allen, a White House employee who served eight First Families over the course of three decades. The drama will be released nationwide on August 16 by the Weinstein Company.
Rodrigo Leão Scoring Lee Daniels’ ‘The Butler’
Rodrigo Leão has taken over scoring duties on the upcoming drama The Butler. The film is directed by Lee Daniels (Precious, The Paperboy) and stars Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, David Oyelowo, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber and Robin Williams. The movie tells the story of Eugene Allen, a White House employee who served eight First Families over the course of three decades. Danny Strong (Recount) has written the screenplay. Daniels is producing the project with Laura Ziskin (Spider-Man, What About Bob?), Pamela Oas Williams, Cassian Elwes and Buddy Patrick (Ain’t Them Bodies Saint, The Paperboy).
Quincy Jones to Score Lee Daniels’ ‘The Butler’
Variety is reporting that Quincy Jones has signed on to score the drama The Butler. The film is directed by Lee Daniels and stars Forest Whitaker as Eugene Allen, a White House employee who served eight First Families over the course of three decades. Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Ami Ameen, Alan Rickman, James Marsden, Jane Fonda and Robin Williams who plays President Dwight Eisenhower are co-starring in the film written by Daniels and Danny Strong (Recount) based on Wil Haygood’s Washington Post article about Allen. Daniels is also producing the drama with Hilary Shor (Children of Men), Cassian Elwes and Pam Williams for Laura Zisken Productions. The film marks the first scoring assignment of the multiple Academy Award-nominated composer (The Color Purple, The Wiz) in several years. Daniels’ last two films Precious and The Paperboy featured scores by Mario Grigorov. The Butler is currently being shot in New Orleans and is expected to be released in 2013.
Mario Grigorov Scoring Lee Daniels’ ‘The Paperboy’
Mario Grigorov is the composer of the thriller The Paperboy. The film reunites Grigorov with director Lee Daniels. They have previously collaborated on the 2009 indie hit Previous and 2005’s Shadowboxer. Lee’s third directorial feature stars Matthew McConaughey, Zak Efron, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack and Scott Glenn. The movie is based on the 1995 novel by Pete Dexter and centers around two brothers who team up to investigate a possible miscarriage of justice surrounding a death row inmate convicted of killing the local sheriff. Dexter has also written the film’s screenplay. Daniels is producing the independent movie alongside Hilary Shor (Children of Men). The Paperboy is currently in post-production. No word yet on when the film will be released.