Wendell Pierce to portray blues legend B.B. King in upcoming biopic
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Wendell Pierce is ready for his close-up.
After more than 30 years of playing character and supporting roles in films, television shows and various theater productions, the acclaimed actor will is readying a monumental role – as blues legend B.B. King in a new film.
“We are official. Preparation has begun on a film where I will be honored to play the great, B.B. King. Humbled,” Pierce tweeted Monday.
The working title of the project is “The Thrill Is On” – a play on King’s 1970 signature hit, a cover of Roy Hawkins' classic “The Thrill Is Gone,” and will focus on the decades-long friendship between King and young musician Michael Zanetis.
According to IMDb, the script is being written by Zanetis and Melora Donoghue.
No other casting has been revealed.
King, who died in 2015 at the age of 89, is celebrated as one of the most influential and respected blues musicians of the last six decades. With over 56 live and studio albums and 15 Grammy Awards, including one Lifetime Achievement Award, the Berclair, Miss.-area native was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Pierce, who currently stars in Amazon’s “Jack Ryan series,” is renowned for his roles in HBO’s “The Wire,” “Treme,” and alongside Jaime Foxx in the 2004 Ray Charles biopic “Ray.”
With credits including films by Spike Lee, Woody Allen and Warren Beatty, the New Orleans native has had memorable roles in “Waiting to Exhale,” “Clemency” as portraying Clarence Thomas in “Confirmation.”
He also starred as Meghan Markle’s character’s father on “Suits.”
On stage, Pierce starred in London’s West End theatrical production of “Death of A Salesman,” which earned him an Oliver Award nomination for Best Actor this year.
Most recently, the award-winning actor narrated Wynton Marsalis' newest album, “The Ever Fonky Lowdown.”
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