A movie musical, titled Brotherly, based on legendary R&B group Boyz II Men’s music catalog is in the works at Amazon Studios. And according to Variety, Malcolm D. Lee is in talks to direct and produce the film.
READ: H.E.R. and Corey Hawkins Cast in The Color Purple Musical Film — Blitz Bazawule to Direct
Brotherly will follows a group of men who return to West Philadelphia for a high school reunion 20 years after having gone their separate ways — eventually finding hope, redemption and a new understanding of the enduring power of friendship.
Marcus Gardley, who is behind the upcoming The Color Purple movie musical adaptation as well as Marvin Gaye biopic What’s Going On, will pen the project.
Amazon Studios as well as John Davis and John Fox will produce the project with Lee via his Blackmaled Productions. Eric Bromberg, Joe Mulvihill, Davis Entertainment’s Jeremy Stein and Sheila Walcott will executive produce
All three current members of Boyz II Men — Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman — are executive producing the project.
READ: Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Song Summertime is Being Adapted Into a Musical
The biggest-selling R&B act of all time, Boyz II Men’s 20-year career has been blessed with record-breaking hits and a cavalcade of awards. Their silky smooth brand of R&B, dubbed “hip-hop doo-wop” by the group, helped redefine the genre, winning them legions of fans worldwide.
After performing at a well-received school Valentine’s Day party in 1989, the band managed to sneak backstage at a Philadelphia show by New Edition offshoot Bel Biv DeVoe. There Boyz II Men sang an a cappella version of New Edition’s ‘Can You Stand The Rain’, impressing Michael Bivins so much that he agreed to manage them. All set to record their debut album, however, delays and personality clashes led to founding member Marc Nelson’s departure, leaving the group a quartet.
As of now, no casting has been revealed.