Musical Based on Lionel Richie Catalogue in the Works at Disney

Musical based on Lionel Richie catalogue in the works at Disney

Lionel Richie is one of the most legendary musicians in American history and now his iconic catalogue of songs has been acquired by Walt Disney Studios, who are developing a movie musical based around the hits, according to Variety.

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The musical, tentatively titled All Night Long, will be penned by Pete Chiarelli (Crazy Rich Asians, The Proposal) and is currently be planned as a live-action theatrical project that will use some of Richie’s greatest hits to guide its story. Though no further details have been given regarding the plot, the film is being described as more akin to the likes of jukebox musicals such as Mamma Mia, which was based around ABBA’s catalogue, and will seek to take advantage of other recent music movie hits such as Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody and Yesterday.

Richie and his manager Bruce Eskowitz are attached to produce the film alongside Cavalry Media executives Dana Brunetti and Matt Del Piano. The concept for the film came from the four-time Grammy winner himself, who sold the pitch to the House of Mouse in January. Richie currently works as a host for American Idol on the Disney-owned ABC alongside Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, having joined the hit musical competition series in 2018 for its sixteenth season.

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Richie has sold a reported 90 million records worldwide in his 50-year career, also having been nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Original Song for “Endless Love” from the 1981 film of the same name, “Say You Say Me” from 1985’s White Nights and “Miss Celie’s Blues” from 1985’s The Color Purple, taking home the award for the second.