This project has been slowly simmering away on the backburner for many years now and it finally looks like a Nina Simone biopic, is moving forward. The film is set to star with Zoe Saldana with the screenplay being written by Cynthia Mort, based on Simone's 1992 autobiography I Put A Spell On You.
Back in 2010, at the Cannes Film festival deals were mooted with Mary J Blige in the title role and David Oyelowo as Simone's assistant Clifton Henderson.
Following that bit of information released at the time, and a bare synopsis suggested that the film would concentrate on Simone and Henderson's relationship, which happened somewhat late in singer’s life.
Simone certainly had a story worth telling, born in North Carolina in 1933, she had initially planned a career as a classical pianist. As it turned out she was turned down a scholarship to Philadelphia's Curtis Institute Of Music because of her skin colour.
Simone drifted into performing in bars and the club circuit and eventually built a loyal following, consequently she began to have recorded successes, and she became a prominent member of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.
She made headlines in the US for refusing to pay her taxes as a protest against the Vietnam War, this resulted in her becoming an exile from the United States in later life. To avoid arrest, she settled in Barbados for some time – in addition she had a lengthy relationship the country’s Prime Minister at the time -Errol Barrow ,before moving on to Liberia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and finally the South of France. She died in Bouches-du-Rhone in 2003.
it is not known at this time Whether Blige and Oyelowo still remain attached the film. IOTG's brief announcement only says that Saldana "will star in Nina", which doesn't definitely say that she'll be playing Nina Simone. It is entirely possible that, if Blige is still on board, Saldana could possibly be involved as her daughter, Lisa Celeste Stroud. Incidentally the Broadway actress and singer performs under the name "Simone". As ever we’ll let you know here at the movie bit, what happens….
