Chris Rock To Direct Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic Alongside Steven Spielberg

Chris Rock will take on the role of a lifetime from behind the lens.

The comedian has been tapped to direct and produce the Martin Luther King Jr. biopic, The Hollywood Reporter shared. Steven Spielberg will assist him as executive producer through his Amblin Partners. Universal Pictures will bring the movie to life, which is based on Jonathan Eig’s biography “King: A Life,” released in May 2023. 

While many books on MLK exist, Universal has leaned towards Eig’s due to its examination of the FBI’s investigation into the civil rights leader. The book was published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux and has been nominated for a National Book Award. It also includes hundreds of interviews with those familiar with MLK and his family. 

While Rock has plenty of credits under his belt, it may surprise some that he is overseeing such a deep film. Many of the productions Rock has starred in and those he has directed are often comedies. This includes movies such as “Head of State” and “I Think I Love My Wife.” This year, Rock starred in his latest stand-up special, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.”

Several films documenting Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact have been released over the years. There was 2014’s “Selma” and even 2013’s “Betty and Coretta,” which focused on his and Malcolm X’s death which brought their widows, Coretta Scott King and Dr. Betty Shabazz, together. Countless documentaries over the years have also highlighted MLK’s legacy. Rock is still wrapping up talks with Universal for his involvement. The film is still in the early stages, so there is not much information to share regarding actors or release dates. Therefore, fans should not expect to see this latest masterpiece for a while.