Oscar-winner Spike Lee is to direct a movie musical about the creation of Viagra, according to Deadline.
The film, co-written by Lee and British playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah and produced by eOne, will be the latest Spike Lee Joint after Da 5 Bloods and American Utopia, both of which were met with critical acclaim.
Currently untitled, the musical will be based on David Kushner’s 2018 Esquire article ‘All Rise: The Untold Story of The Guys Who Launched Viagra’, which chronicled the discovery, development and marketing of Pfizer’s landmark impotence medication in the late 90s. The music and original songs will be written by acclaimed songwriters Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald, the duo behind the Tony-winning comedy-drama musical Passing Strange.
In a written statement to Deadline, an evidently effervescent Lee remarked on his early dislike of musicals and paid tribute to his late mother for being the one to eventually change his mind.
“First And Foremost, I Thank Ms. Jacquelyn Shelton Lee. I Thank My Late Mother For As She Would Say Taking “My Narrow, Rusty Behind” Dragging, Kickin’ And Screamin’ To The Movies When I Wuz A Nappy Headed Kid Growing Up In Da Streets Of Da People’s Republic Of Brooklyn. I Did Not Want To See Corny People Singin’ And Dancin’. I Instead Wanted To Play With My Friends On Da Block, Stoop Ball, Stick Ball, Punch Ball, Soft Ball, Basketball, 2 Hand Touch, Tackle Football, Coco Leevio, Johnny On Da Pony, Hot Peas And Butter, Crack Top, Down Da Sewer And Of Course-Booty’s Up. All The Great New York City Street Games That Might Be Sadly Lost Forever. My Father, Bill Lee, Jazz/Folk Bassist, Composer HATED HollyWeird Movies, Henceforth And What Not, Me Being The Eldest Of 5 Children I Became Mommy’s Movie Date. She Was A Cinefile. Thank You Lawdy She Didn’t Listen To My Ongoing Complaints About Musicals. So Finally Going Into My 4th Decade As A Filmmaker I Will Be Directing A DANCIN’, ALL SINGIN’ MUSICAL Spike Lee Joint And I Can’t Wait. My Moms Has Been Waiting TOO!!! And Dats Da Rodgers And Hammerstein Truth, Ruth.”
A release date for the project has not yet been revealed.
