Ryan Coogler set to produce long-in-the-works project revolving around the late icon’s music
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is set to produce an upcoming jukebox movie musical revolving around the music of Prince.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the long-in-the-works project — the film was initially announced back in 2018 — has taken a step forward with Coogler on board, with his Proximity Media and Universal Pictures partnering on the film.
Bryan Edward Hill — who was written for comic books like Kilmonger and Ultimate Black Panther — has already penned a draft of the script. No other details regarding the film — title, director, or actors involved — have been revealed.
Work on the Prince project likely won’t begin until Coogler has finished production on his next movie, simply described as an “event film” that reunites him with actor Michael B. Jordan; the pair previously teamed for Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther. The upcoming film, due out March 2025, is the director’s first since 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Prince’s Purple Rain film would be adapted into a stage musical, with Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient Branden Jacobs-Jenkins writing the musical’s book and Lileana Blain-Cruz serving as director.