Could There Be One Too Many Mahalia Jackson Biopics

Biopics often give us a varied and focused insight on many prolific incividules from a myriad of perspectives. However can there possibly on too many done on one individual a one time. We may soon see as several projects are in the works on the life of gospel legend Mahalia Jackson.

Ledisi has been tapped to play gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the upcoming biopic, “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story.” Ledisi is starring alongside Columbus Short who has been cast as Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights icon shared an intimate friendship with Jackson and she was present when he gave his impassioned “I Have A Dream” speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Jill Scot is et to star in another biopic Mahalia! Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah are onboard

to collaborate as executive producers. Mahalia! is based on the novel Mahalia Jackson by Darlene Donloe. What may give this particular production a leg up is the production team has secured the rights to Jackson’s entire catalog of hits including “How I Got Over," “His Eyes Are on the Sparrow," “Move On Up a Little Higher," “Amazing Grace” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain."

Danielle Brooks is set to portray the gospel legend in a Lifetime biopic “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia Jackson”. Brooks is joined by an impressive list of Broadway stars including Tony nominee Joaquina Kalukango (“Slave Play”), Jason Dirden (“Fences”), Olivia Washington (“The Butler”) and Rob Demery (“Lovecraft Country”). Dirden stars as Russell Roberts, the Reverend who falls for Mahalia when they first meet in the late 1940s while Kalukango takes on the role of Mildred, Mahalia’s talented and opinionated long-time pianist. Meanwhile, Washington portrays Estelle, a piano teacher Mahalia meets at church who goes on to become her life-long friend, and Demery stars as the influential civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.