Legendary R&B group Boyz II Men are developing a feature film biopic that will chronicle their 30-year career, which has spawned such hits as “End of the Road,” “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” “On Bended Knee,” “One Sweet Day” and “Motownphilly.”
The four-time Grammy-winning group has partnered with production and financing companies Compelling Pictures and Primary Wave to develop the narrative feature film, with Boyz II Men’s Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris executive producing the project. Compelling will also begin production on a long-form documentary project about the group’s dominance in the 1990s and 2000s and continued success today.
“We’ve been waiting to find the right partners who understand our story and are willing to tell it all,” said Nathan Morris in a statement on behalf of the group. “Denis and Jeff at Compelling Pictures understood us day 1.”
Producers, including Compelling Pictures’ Denis O’Sullivan (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Jeff Kalligheri (“I Wanna Dance with Somebody”), are in early talks with writers and directors and are fast-tracking the film, which has the benefit of the group’s catalogue of hits.
Boyz II Men made their debut in 1991 with the chart-topping album “Cooleyhighharmony” and have since become the bestselling R&B group of all time with more than 60 million albums sold worldwide. They are currently touring and recently headlined a sold-out, three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl, their first performance at the historic venue after having been an opening act there at the start of their journey.
“Having grown up as huge fans of Boyz II Men, and having spent the past couple of years getting to know the guys and become friends with them, it’s a tremendous honor to help bring their unique and untold story to the big screen,” said O’Sullivan and Kalligheri. “We’re excited to show the brotherhood and comradery, as well as the challenges and strife, humor and heartbreak, that has accompanied the unparalleled success that Nate, Shawn, Wanya, and Mike have worked so hard to achieve. And we think the global audience will want to sing along to a sexy, funny, aspirational, uplifting celebration of friendships and artistic partnerships that have stood the test of time. Doom-doom-doom-da-da….”
Also producing the film are Larry Mestel (“I Wanna Dance with Somebody”) for Primary Wave; Joe Mulvihill for the Mulvi Group; and Jeremy M. Rosen (“King Ivory”) for Roxwell Films.
“Boyz II Men are one of the most influential bands of a generation. They are one of the few who transcend genre and format,” said Mestel. “Primary Wave is proud to expand its partnership with the band and look forward to creating a story with Joe, Jeremy and Compelling that will last forever and reintroduce the band to a new youth culture.”
Added Mulvihill, the group’s manager: “Being with them for over 22 years now, I’ve seen the highs the lows and all the in-depth emotional human turmoil. I think people will be pleasantly surprised to see behind the curtain.”
In addition to Boyz II Men’s Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris, executive producers on the project include Ori Allon, Dennis Casali and Steven Garcia.
From Variety US