Paramount Pictures has acquired thePeter GuralnickbookSam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘N’ Rollfor a new movie adaptation thatLeonardo DiCapriois set to star in and produce. The actor will produce with his Appian Way partnerJennifer Davisson Killoran. Paramount is currently seeking a screenwriter to adapt the project.
Deadlinereports that the studio will move quickly to find a writer and a director for this project, which is the second novel adaptation Paramount has acquired for the actor this week, who recently signed a first-look deal with the studio. We reported last week that the studio picked up the rights to the bookTruevine: Two Brothers, A Kidnapping, And A Mother’s Quest; A True Story Of The Jim Crow South, which is based on the true story of two African-American brothers who were kidnapped and put on display ascircus freaksin the 1800s. No writer has been set for that project either, but it isn’t known which of these will be his follow-up to his Oscar-winning performance inThe Revenant. The actor also has an adaptation of theErik LarsonbookThe Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic And Madness At The Fair That Changed America, which hasMartin Scorseseset to direct from a script byBilly Ray.
Leonardo DiCapriowill playSam Phillips, the music producer who launched the careers of several music icons through his Memphis-based Sun Studios. Among the musicians he discovered areElvis Presley,Ike Turner,Howlin' Wolf,Jerry Lee Lewis,Johnny CashandCarl Perkins.Peter Guralnick, who also wroteElvis PresleybooksLast Train To MemphisandCareless Love, will serve as a producer on this adaptation of his 2015 book.
IconicThe Rolling Stonesfront manMick Jaggerwill also serve as an executive producer, coming off his stint as an EP on HBO’sVinyl, which was cancelled after just one season. The musician was reportedly instrumental in the crafting ofVinyl, and he is expected to be a “similar asset” on this project as well. Also executive producing isVictoria Pearman,Steve Bing,Ian MontoneandRick Yorn.
The first book Paramount acquired for Appian Way isThe Corporation: An Epic Story Of The Cuban American Underworld. which hasBenicio Del Toroattached to star. It isn’t known when any of these Appian Way adaptations will move forward first, but thisSam Phillips/Leonardo DiCaprio Projectisn’t expected to be his next movie.
