Mario Van Peebles has been selected to direct the upcoming film 'That'll Be the Day,' which will delve into the pivotal role played by Buddy Holly and other late 1950s musicians in the birth of rock 'n' roll and their influence on broader societal and cultural movements, including the civil rights era.
Van Peebles, known for his deep connection to music in his filmmaking, has a diverse portfolio ranging from the 1991 gangster movie 'New Jack City' to his recent work on 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga' for Hulu. Currently, he is crafting a musical stage tribute to his father, Melvin Van Peebles, set to grace the Lincoln Center in New York City later this year.
In a statement, Van Peebles highlighted the impact of America's rich cultural diversity on producing exceptional musical talents like Buddy Holly, whom he described as the 'first bad ass rock 'n' roll nerd.' His 2003 docudrama 'Baadasssss!' pays homage to his father's groundbreaking film 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.'
Van Peebles' latest project, 'Outlaw Posse,' a Western featuring a star-studded cast, is currently showing in theaters. For 'That'll Be the Day,' the production team includes Rick French of Prix Productions, Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions, and STX. The screenplay, penned by Patrick Shanahan and Matthew Benjamin with additional input from Van Peebles, is based on a story by French and Stephen Easley of the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.
BMG, managing the Buddy Holly estate and music publishing catalog in the U.S., provided development funding for the film. Executive producers include Easley, David Hirshland, and Peter Bradley, Jr. of the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, with Maria Elena Holly, Buddy Holly's widow, serving as an associate producer. Shanahan and Matthew Benjamin are co-producers, while Annie Herndon oversees the project for STX.
Benjamin, with a history of successful musical biopics like 'La Bamba' and 'Ray,' brings his expertise to 'That'll Be the Day.' 'La Bamba' chronicled the rise of Ritchie Valens, who tragically perished alongside Holly and J.P. Richardson in a 1959 plane crash. 'Ray,' a biopic on Ray Charles, earned Benjamin an Oscar nomination and a Grammy for its soundtrack.
