Tuesday, March 10, 2009

André Benjamin To Play Sammy Davis Jr. In Movie?

André 3000

I've found several articles mentioning this, but I can't find any concrete news about it. I'm wondering if this is a project that's now defunct, just on the backburner, or whatever else. Pretty much all of the articles I've found are from a couple of years ago.


Here's an article about this film from Pitchfork Media:

Though he's spent recent months rekindling his rap career by appearing on various remixes and singles (quite a few of which are completely awesome) as well as a forthcoming Cornel West LP, Andre 3000 hasn't forgotten his acting aspirations.

According to The New York Times, the Outkast MC known to his mother as André Benjamin is "expected" to expand his film resume (which includes roles in Be Cool and Four Brothers, voice spots in Charlotte's Web and his own "Class of 3000" Cartoon Network series, and, of course, a star turn in Idlewild) to take on the role of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. The role would be in a movie titled Sammy and Kim about the Rat Pack member's controversial relationship with Vertigo actress Kim Novak.

The Times reports that Roc-A-Fella co-founder Damon Dash is involved with Sammy and Kim's production and that Madonna/Missy Elliott/Tori Amos music video director Earle Sebastian will direct the film, which is one of three Davis projects currently in the works.

Andre will also appear in two other new movies, both currently in post-production. One is Battle in Seattle, about the 1999 World Trade Organization protests. The second is a more light-hearted affair, a basketball comedy with Will Ferrell called Semi-Pro.

Has anyone heard anything about this movie at all? I'm really curious to know. I thought I would mention it here. I'd be interested to see it if they do in fact make this film. For those that don't know anything about André 3000, here's the video for a song called Green Light he recently did with John Legend.


20 comments:

style munch said...

andre 3000 is the coolest! i don't know if you like his music or anything, but there is this guy B.O.B that sounds uncannily similar to him and you might check him out! also thanks for the comments on my blog, and i love the name of yours and very much agree, coolness is timeless.
www.ibitefashion.blogspot.com

Keith said...

Hey Style Munch. Thanks for the comments. You are welcome about mine on yours. I do plan to check out your blog more. Glad you like the name of my blog. I have heard of B.O.B. I like his music a lot. I am a big fan of Andre 3000 so it would be neat to see him play Sammy. Cheers!

Nancy Sinatra Fan said...

I haven't heard anything at all about this. I have no clue what to tell you. That would be an interesting film though. I like him.

dino martin peters said...

Hey pallie Keith, dude likes this Dinopost makes me wonder what ever happened to the Dinoflick that was 'posed to be made this Dinoyear of Dino's girlpallie Deana's Dinotome "Memories Are Made Of This." Have you heard anythin' on that one....knows that Tosches' Dinobioflick seems to be dead in the water, but wonderin' whatever happened to this other one....

Keith said...

Thanks Phoebe. I would be interested to see if I could find out more. This might be a project that fell through. I'm not sure at all.

Keith said...

Hey pallie DMP. Thanks for the comments. When I came across this article, that made me decide to see if I could find out anything about any Dino film project. I didn't see any new info about any movie. I'm not sure what's going on. I don't know if the project fell through altogether, is on hold & or what. I'm going to try to keep on digging. Cheers!

E.K. said...

I think he'd be a great pick for Sammy.

Keith said...

Hey E.K. I think so too.

Cate said...

Hey, Keith.
First off, I checked out that post from yesterday, and you're right, that IS cool! I especially enjoyed the video.
André Benjamin? I bet Molly from Ashcan Rantings will be excited when she hears this - I think she's a fan of him.
I didn't know he had acting aspirations! I liked the way the article was written - I've never seen the phrase "completely awesome" in a piece of journalism ^^
That film sure sounds interesting, I'd be interested about knowing more about Sammy Davis Jr.'s relationship with Kim Novak. The word "Verigo" almost always arouses interest in me, don't ask me why.
But I hadn't heard about this film before.
I listened to "Green Light" too and I found the song really relaxing.

Bye!

Couture Carrie said...

Would be perfect casting!

I didn't know he did one of the voices in Charlotte's Web - so fab!

And I adore his dandy-ish style; Andre 3000 wears a 3-piece suit like no other!

xoxox,
CC

Keith said...

Hey Cate. Thanks for the comments. Glad you enjoyed my post from yesterday. I had fun doing that one. I hope to do more like that in the future.

Yeah, I do think Molly's a fan of his. I'm not sure if this movie is still a good or not. I hope so. I'd like to see him play Sammy. I guess he really wants to do more acting. I've seen him in a couple of movies, such as "Four Brothers." I know he's done others as well.

I don't know as much about Sammy's relationship with Kim as I would like. It was quite a controversial relationship when it happened. It would be intriguing to see how they got together and what they went through as a couple.

I really like Green Light. Glad you did too. I've got the CD that song is on.

Cheers!

Keith said...

Hey Carrie. Thanks for the comments. Glad you think he would be perfect as Sammy. I totally agree. I hope this film is still going ahead. I love his style. He's so fascinating. I really like the clothes I've seen from his fashion label. Cheers!

Mondo said...

Now that would work!

Keith said...

Glad you agree.

Video Zeta One said...

I lost interest in hip-hop over ten years ago, yet I have to say Andre is someone I still have admiration for- he's actually got talent, originality and a degree of old-school class that's absent in most of his collegues. He'd be a good choice to represent Sammy if they ever bother to make this film

Scott (gotankgo) said...

Hi Keith - I've heard/read rumblings about this over the past several years and I think there were at least two different Sammy biopics being produced, but haven't heard much lately. I did uncover a story from Jan. 08 about his widow Altovise suing some business partners and effectively halting things, at least temporarily. Here's a link to that story http://reporter.blogs.com/thresq/2008/01/sammy-davis-jr.html.

Keith said...

Hey Gil. Thanks for the comments. It was nice hearing from you. I don't like most mainstream hip hop. There are a few artists that I enjoy. Andre 3000 is definitely one of them. I think he's got style, talent, etc. If this movie is made, I will certainly see it. I would look forward to seeing his take on Sammy.

Keith said...

Hey Scott. Thanks. I'll check that link out. I wasn't sure if this movie was still a go or not. I couldn't find anything at all more recent. I know there are always lots of projects that never materialize. I wasn't sure if this was one of those or not. I thought I would mention it in case anyone knew anything about it. Plus I think it was an interesting idea.

Melissa Hafting said...

He looks like he would suit the role

Keith said...

Hey Mel. I agree with you on that.