Variety is reporting that Boyega will play Otis Redding in “Otis & Zelma,” an upcoming biopic about the legendary soul singer and his relationship with his wife, played by “Till” star Danielle Deadwyler. “Miss Juneteenth” director Channing Godfrey Peoples is set to direct.
Redding, whose hits include “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Respect,” “These Arms of Mine,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and “Hard to Handle,” died in a plane crash near Lake Monona, Wisconsin, in December 1967. He was 26 years old.
The film will follow the 10-year relationship between the singer and his wife, as well as Otis’ musical success before his death and the effect it had on Zelma.
After her husband’s death, Zelma Redding survived by opening a booking business, a record store and a nightclub. Today she is the president and founder of the Otis Redding Foundation.
She never remarried, telling The New York Times in 2022: “I love being Mrs. Otis Redding. I’m the only one.”
No release date has been set for “Otis & Zelma,” but Boyega seems excited about the gig.
He reposted a link to the Variety story on social media Wednesday, and commented: “More to come! Next slate is juicy!”