Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo to star in Talent Show, a musical drama for Universal Pictures. Gandja Monteiro is directing the picture which is based on an idea by Duane Adler, who originated the “Step Up” franchise.
Talent Show follows a failed songwriter who returns home to Chicago to lead a group of at-risk youth in their annual talent show.
Lena Waithe penned the latest version of the script from an earlier version by Adler and Aimee Lagos.
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Waithe will also serve as executive producer alongside State Street’s Jay Marcus. Erik Baiers and Sara Scott will oversee the project on behalf of Universal. Rishi Rajani will oversee for Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions.
George Tillman Jr. and Robert Teitel are producing under their State Street Pictures label.
Senior Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers and Senior Vice President of Production Sara Scott will oversee the project on behalf of Universal. Marcus, who runs development at State Street Pictures, will oversee on behalf of the company, while Rishi Rajani will oversee on behalf of Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions.
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Erivo is working her way to receive an EGOT. She is a Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner, as well as an Academy Award nominee. She received her Oscar nominee for her leading role in Harriet. Up next you can see her portraying the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in NatGeo’s Genius: Aretha.
She most recently appeared in HBO’s “The Outsider”.
News on Talent Show was first read on THR.