Tyler Perry to star in HBO biopic about Oscar Micheaux

Posted by | Ray Cornelius

HBO is teaming up with Tyler Perry for a biopic about the life and career of film pioneer Oscar Micheaux.

According to VARIETY, Perry will star in and produce the project alongside Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. The film will also be based on the 2007 Micheaux biography, Oscar Michaeux: The Great and Only: The Life of America’s First Black Filmmaker by Patrick McGillian.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Tyler Perry to bring Oscar Micheaux’s inspiring and trailblazing life story to HBO,” said Zadan. Added Meron: “There are so many parallels between the groundbreaking work that Micheaux pioneered and Perry’s achievements as an artist that it feels like a natural fit.”

Michauex is regarded as the first major African-American feature filmmaker and produced over 44 films including “Body and Soul” with the great Paul Robeson.

Watch “Body and Soul” in it’s entirety below:

Photo Credits: BlackHistoryHeroes.com and Net-biographies.com