Mr. Ritchie talks shop with Duchess Camilla. Photo: imago images / PA Images
With hits like “Say You, Say Me” or “All Night Long” Lionel Richie became a superstar. Now his songs should be poured into a film musical.
Lionel Richie (70) wants to bring his hit ballads to the big screen. The American pop star and the Walt Disney Studio are planning a joint film musical, the US industry papers “Variety” and “Hollywood Reporter” reported.
Richie became famous through rags like “Say You, Say Me” or “Hello”. According to the reports, the project has the working title “All Night Long” after one of Richie’s hits. Pete Chiarelli (“Crazy Rich”, “Even is the bride”) is said to be on board as the screenwriter.
It started with the Commodores
Born in Alabama in 1949, the singer first became known as a member of the Commodores. Richie wrote hits for the band such as “Easy”, “Three Times a Lady” and “Sail On”. As a solo artist, he became a world star in the 1980s.
With “All Night Long” he appeared at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with Michael Jackson he wrote the live aid anthem “We Are The World”. Four Grammys and an Oscar for the song “Say You, Say Me” from the film “White Nights – The Night of Decision” seal his status as a big star.
Film musicals recently won a lot at the box office in Hollywood but also at awards ceremonies, including the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” about Freddie Mercury and “Rocketman” about the life of Elton John.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200610-99-372038 / 3
