B.B. King’s estate challenges casting of Wendell Pierce in The Thrill is On project over influential blues legend
- Pierce announced casting last week, then issued amended statement
- Writer Michael Zanetis told the outlet that Pierce has been inked to play the role since 2009
- King died at 89 at his Las Vegas home in 2015
- Pierce has past appeared on The Wire and in films Selma and Confirmation
B.B. King’s estate has opposed the casting of Wendell Pierce in The Thrill is On, an upcoming docudrama about the influential blues legend, who died at 89 at his Las Vegas home in 2015.
On Monday, Pierce who played Bunk Moreland on The Wire, took to social media to hearken his role in the huge project.
‘We are official,’ Pierce, 56, said. ‘Preparation has begun on a film where I will be honored to play the great, BB King. Humbled.’
The latest: B.B. King’s estate has opposed the casting of Wendell Pierce in The Thrill is On, an upcoming docudrama about the influential blues legend, who died at 89 at his Las Vegas home in 2015
Vassal Benford, who serves as the chairman for the Three O’Clock Blues artist’s estate, told TMZ the estate was ‘furious’ over the announcement, as he said the decision who should portray the blues legend, born Riley B. King, had not yet been made.
‘I think Mr. Pierce misspoke,’ Benford said.
He added that SNL star Kenan Thompson and some relatives of the influential musical icon were also possible options to be cast into the role.
Writer/producer Michael Zanetis told the outlet that Pierce has been inked to play the role since 2009, and that King himself approved of Pierce.
Icon: King was snapped in 2011 performing in Australia
Newsmakers: Pierce played Bunk Moreland on The Wire opposite Dominic West
The estate has been constantly in the loop about the project – which he clarified is a docudrama and not a biopic – and only began complaining now, Zanetis said.
King’s grandson Eric Mitchell – an executive producer on the film for eight years – can back up everything, Zanetis said.
Pierce subsequently tweeted: ‘The Estate of BB King has requested I clarify the film THE THRILL IS ON is not a biopic in the traditional sense. It is a dramatized version of a real-life friendship story.’