JOURNEY Singer ARNEL PINEDA’s Biopic To Be Helmed By ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Director
Wednesday, 05 December 2018
News
According to
Deadline,
"Crazy Rich Asians" director
Jon M. Chu will make a movie based on the life story of
JOURNEY singer
Arnel Pineda.
Temple Hill's
Marty Bowen will produce, and the search for a writer is underway.
Born in the Philippines,
Pineda has been fronting the legendary rockers since 2007 when
JOURNEY guitarist
Neal Schon discovered him leading a Manila cover band on
YouTube. A vocal doppelganger for
JOURNEY's longtime vocalist
Steve Perry,
Arnel has helped put
JOURNEY back in arenas once again. But some fans were not happy about the addition of
Pineda, complaining about his ethnicity and dismissing his voice as a "copycat" of
Perry.
"This story in particular has been on my mind since I first read about it years ago,"
Chu told
Deadline. "A true fairytale and triumph of the human spirit. An unlikely hero, an undeniable talent, the power of music and a worldwide stage — literally — has all the ingredients I love about movies. Plus I have been a fan of
JOURNEY's music since I can remember. I am excited to be bringing the audience along on this incredible story with my partners at
Warner Bros., who have been a leading champion of diverse voices in front and behind the camera."
Warner Bros. is still negotiating for the licensing of
JOURNEY's original songs. The studio has also acquired the rights to
"Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey", the 2012 documentary which chronicled
Pineda's rise from homeless tribute singer to arena rock star.