John Boyega and Danielle Deadwyler to star in Otis Redding biopic ‘Otis & Zelma’

John Boyega and Danielle Deadwyler will soon ask voters to try a little tenderness come Oscar season. Variety reports that Boyega and Deadwyler have signed on to star respectively as legendary soul singer Otis Redding and his wife, Zelma Redding, in a biopic called “Otis & Zelma.” 

The film will be directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples (“Miss Juneteenth”) from a script by Donnetta Lavinia Grays, with revisions by Godfrey Peoples. It’s produced by Fifth Season, Homegrown Pictures and Kinfolk Management + Media. It will tell the Reddings’ love story, which started when Redding was on his ascent to stardom, continued through his finding success with era-defining hits like “These Arms of Mine” and “Try a Little Tenderness,” and was cut tragically short when Otis died in a plane crash in 1967 at age 26, leaving Zelma a widow with three children.

Zelma is still alive and has kept her husband’s legacy strong for the past 57 years — he’ll receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 4. “Otis & Zelma” has the support of Redding’s estate. 

Boyega is best known for starring as Finn in the “Star Wars” Skywalker trilogy. He won a Golden Globe in 2021 for his performance in Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe.” 

Deadwyler is best known for starring as Mamie Till in 2022’s “Till,” which earned her BAFTA, Critic’s Choice, and SAG nominations for her performance. She will next be seen in the film “The Piano Lesson,” which is getting her strong Oscar buzz for Best Supporting Actress this year.

Boyega and Deadwyler may hope for a “Walk the Line” situation, where both leads in a musician biopic earn Oscar nominations. For that 2005 Johnny Cash biopic, Reese Witherspoon won Best Actress for her performance as June Carter Cash, and Joaquin Phoenix was nominated for his performance as the Man in Black.