Although Universal Pictures remained silent Monday, producers with director Paul Greengrass' Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. movie project, "Memphis," confirmed that the studio has pulled the plug on the production, according to Memphis & Shelby County Film Commissioner Linn Sitler.
Announced for a June start date, "Memphis" would have focused primarily on King's final day in the city where he was assassinated 43 years ago Monday.
Representatives of the production had scouted Memphis and especially the Lorraine Motel part of the National Civil Rights Museum as a shooting location.
Movie projects about King have been announced frequently during the past several years, but none have come to fruition. Internet reports over the weekend stated Universal backed out of financing and distributing "Memphis" due to the difficulty of casting and scheduling the film in the time available before its proposed start date, but some speculated that pressures from the King estate -- which previously sanctioned an as yet unrealized King project from Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks company -- might have contributed to Universal's decision. Greengrass, producer Scott Rudin and Universal representatives have not commented.
- |
Comments » 0
Be the first to post a comment!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.