Blockbuster director Steven Spielberg will produce a biopic on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. under the DreamWorks banner.
DreamWorks acquired the rights to a film based on King’s life, and the film will thus be the first officially authorized by King’s estate. Such authorization, says Variety, gives the filmmakers access to the civil rights hero’s intellectual property, thereby assuring that the famous “I Have a Dream” speech can appear in the film.
Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones join Spielberg in producing.
“We are all honored that the King Estate is giving us the opportunity to tell the story of these defining, historic events,” said Spielberg. “It is our hope that the creative power of film and the impact of Dr. King’s life can combine to present a story of undeniable power that we can all be proud of.”
Securing the rights to a King film has been a prominent mission of DreamWorks CEO Stacey Snider, who has been working on the deal since the company’s formation.
