LOS ANGELES, June 6: “Empire” co-creator Lee Daniels is in negotiations to helm jazz icon Billie Holiday biopic “Billie”.
Sources told Variety actor Andra Day is being sought for the title role with Lakeith Stanfield as the male lead.
Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is writing the script and, Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are attached as producers.
The film is still looking for a studio and it is unknown when production would begin.
Daniels has not directed any feature since 2013’s “The Butler”, his main focus being shows “Empire” and “Star” lately.
Earlier, Diana Ross played Holiday in a 1972 biopic and a 1986 Broadway play, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” paid tributes to the singer, whose real name was Eleanora Fagan. (PTI)