LATEST NEWS
Dwayne Johnson Producing and Starring in Biopic on Charley Pride?
by Ethan Anderton
April 29, 2011
Source: The Playlist
Earlier this week, we learned that Fast Five star Paul Walker would produce and star in an indie thriller called Vehicle 19. Now another cast member from the franchise sequel is also producing and starring in another lower profile project of his own. The Telegraph-Journal (via The Playlist) has learned that Dwayne Johnson has been lined up to produce and star in a biopic about African-American country music singer Charley Pride whose career blossomed in the 1970's. Apparently the project was previously being developed with Terrence Howard starring and Hustle & Flow director Craig Brewer, but not anymore.
Pride himself revealed this bit of news in an interview with the Telegraph-Journal saying, the project had been developed previously, "But then the ball got fumbled. New management took over the studio that was ready to begin site work on it. And a decision was made to put all their resources behind thrillers—fast actioners. They felt that was where the big box office money was then.” Now Pride says the project is back on track and he even elaborated on the change in casting:
“Now it’s back on track again but with action and comedy star Dwayne Johnson portraying me in the title role. Terrence, it seems, is tied up on other involvements for a few years. Terrence is no doubt a more in-depth actor academically, but Dwayne is such a force on screen. It startled me a little at first, but he flew down to Dallas and spent a day with me just sitting, talking recently. And when he left it was like parting with an old friend. We had such similar views on so many things."
This is quite an unlikely project for an actor who has stayed within the confines of action and comedy (sometimes both of them together), and it shows that he's ready to show he has more than muscles and decent comedic timing. The story of Pride is rife with intriguing details from being a professional baseball player in the Negro leagues to being drafted into the Army. But instead of going back to playing ball, he decided to try his hand in music and while his race was kept secret from listeners (despite the quality of his music), his hit songs Just Between You and Me made a splash on the charts and made him a household name and a Grammy winner. The question is whether or not Johnson has the dramatic talent and the singing chops to pull it off. What do you think?
7 Comments
2
The Rock. He's half black and can sing & play guitar pretty well tho.
Anonymous on Apr 29, 2011
3
yeah i'm confident he can pull it off... he is far better than a lot of people give him credit for.
Rattplatt on Apr 29, 2011
4
i agree mate
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
5
i agree mate
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
6
Um...Charley Pride is clearly a darker skinned black man than Dwayne Johnson. In fact, Dwayne looks hispanic to me most of the time. Terrence Howard-even though I cannot stand him as a person or an actor-would have been the far better choice. It matters not if Dwayne is 1/2, 1/4 or 1/8 black- he does NOT look black in any way and therefore should not have been even a consideration to play the role. And their physiques are completely different as well. Charley was never this buffed up body type guy. I grew up with my mother playing his albums quite regularly and watching him on TV. I like Dwayne. I do but NOT in this role. How sad someone like Charley will have their life story ruined by HWD.
CharleyFan on May 1, 2011
7
Oh CharleyFan, Obama is half-black; so is Halle Berry, so is Tiger Woods, so is Slash. They all look different, but are generally considered Black (even though the term mixed-race has become more acceptable). Are you really admitting you can't enjoy an actor in a role unless he/she looks EXACTLY like the person being portrayed? That is why the art is called acting. I mean, really, in your world view, there should have never been a Wolverine because Hugh Jackman really doesn't look like a wolverine. In fact, he looks more like an Australian to me...
Shonna on May 1, 2011
New comments are no longer allowed on this post.
FEATURED POSTS
FOLLOW FS HERE
Follow Alex's main account on Twitter:
Add our posts to your Feedly › click here
Get all the news sent on Telegram 
LATEST TO WATCH