Filmmaker Lee Daniels has attached himself to a new project. THR reports that the Precious and The Butler director has signed on to helm The Brian Banks Story for Gidden Media. The film will tell the true story of a high school football star who, on the cusp of playing for USC, was accused of rape and spent five years in prison before his conviction was overturned. Amy Baer (Last Vegas) will produce and the project is currently out to writers, so it may be some time before it goes in front of cameras. After being released from prison, Banks subsequently went on to play in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons.
Since the release of The Butler last year, Daniels has kept himself busy putting together a drama pilot for Fox called Empire. The show, which stars Terrence Howard and revolves around a hip-hop empire, was picked up to series and is slated to premiere as part of Fox’s 2014-15 lineup. Daniels was also in talks to direct a Richard Pryor biopic, but we haven’t heard movement on that project in a few months. It remains unclear what he will next direct.
