Onyx Collective has acquired the rights to Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s eponymous Sly Stone documentary, which chronicles the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, it was announced during a Sundance Film Festival panel on Saturday.
Questlove, who won an Oscar last year for “Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” directs what appears to be his second feature, from a script by Joseph Patel and Jeff Mao. Is. The film examines “the rise, reign and fade of one of pop music’s most influential artists” while telling a “very human story about the cost of talent”, according to the official description.
Producer Network Entertainment Inc. For Derrick Murray and Patel. Along with executive producer Stone, Network Entertainment Inc. Brian Gersh, and Two One Five Entertainment Inc. Kay Questlove, Shawn Gee, and Zarah Zolman. Lonnie Rashid Lynn, better known as Common, executive produces for Stardust Films. ID8 Multimedia, Inc. with Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone, Ron Weisner and Network Entertainment. built for Paul Gertz is also serving as executive producer.
The brand also announced a multi-year overall deal with filmmaker and “Summer of Soul” producer Joseph Patel, who will produce, write and direct new projects through his banner Dubbed Edition under the terms of his new deal. . He is replaced by Kate Hurwitz at Synetic Media and Mark Simon, Alex Threadgold and Daniel Spencer at Fox Rothschild LLP.
“Anthem” will premiere on Hulu as part of Onyx Collective’s overall deal with Proximity. The documentary follows Dahi, the Grammy-winning music producer for film and television musician Chris Bowers (“Bridgerton,” “King Richard”) and artists such as Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Together, they travel across America, contemplating and re-imagining “The Star Spangled Banner” for a modern age.
Directed and produced by Peter Nix for Proximity, “Anthem” is also produced by Proximity’s Ryan Coogler, Bowers, Sean Heavy and Chris L. Jenkins. RJ Cutler and Ellis Perlstein will executive produce for This Machine, with Genji Coogler and Sev Ohanian executive producing for The Closer.
In addition, under his deal with Onyx Collective, Proximity is set to executive produce “Sheba”. For Proximity co-creators Welles and Tesfai will also executive produce alongside Ryan Coogler, Kalia King, Sev Ohanian and Genji Coogler.
Inspired by true events, the show tells the story of Makeda, the first queen of the African continent, who is tasked with unifying the country known today as Ethiopia. On his way to do so, he must navigate a world of danger, deceit and political intrigue.
