DreamWorks announced that their project of bringing Martin Luther King Jr. on to the screen have been slashed has the appointed director Oliver Stone has decided to drop out from the project. Oliver Stone was appointed has the director with the contribution on Jamie Foxx has the leading role, and none other than Steven Spielberg putting his stand as an producer. Stone tweeted today to announce that he had left the project and provided details on his script, which would have shown both the heroism and flaws of MLK, and those around him. Here’s how Stone justified his act:
My MLK project involvement has ended. I did an extensive rewrite of the script, but the producers won’t go with it. — Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014
The script dealt w/ issues of adultery, conflicts within the movement, and King’s spiritual transformation into a higher, more radical being — Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014
I’m told the estate & the ‘respectable’ black community that guard King’s reputation won’t approve it. They suffocate the man & the truth. — Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014
I wish you could see the film I would’ve made. I fear if ‘they’ ever make it, it’ll be just another commemoration of the March on Washington — Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014
Martin, I grieve for you. You are still a great inspiration for your fellow Americans—but, thank God, not a saint. — Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014
It was bit strange, but perhaps not a total surprise, As this is not the first time this has happen, Paul Greengrass’ “Memphis” dropped out back in 2011 for similar reasons when he was first trying to direct the movie, and made the Universal to close the project. And Lee Daniels’ “Selma” also ran into the same sorts of problems a few years ago too.
So we’ll see what the next move is for DreamWorks, but it would seem no one is going to make this movie without the tacit approval of the MLK estate.