Life has been hard enough at the moment, but it looks like Spike Lee is in the market for making it even harder with his latest project: a musical about everyone’s favourite impotence drug, Viagra.
A stark change from Lee’s last film Da 5 Bloods, the musical is based on the David Kushner Esquire article All Rise: The Untold Story of The Guys Who Launched Viagra. The musical will be inspired by the true events leading up to the discovery and launch of Viagra by Pfizer (yes, COVID-19 vaccine creators Pfizer), leading to the company’s *ahem* rise in the pharmaceutical industry. Lee and Kwame Kwei-Armah, the mind behind the London stage adaptations of Twelfth Night and Tree, will write the screenplay.
While popping a Viagra can certainly spice things up in the bedroom, Lee is wanting to go one step further by introducing some sweet serenades into the experience. Talk about showing me a good time. Chances are when you first heard the news, “Viagra?” was the first thought to cross your mind, quickly followed by “Spike Lee directing a musical?”. Lee may be better known for films like Do The Right Thing, BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods, but when it comes to musicals, he has some renown. He recently directed the movie adaptation of David Byrne’s hit musical American Utopia as well as a trilogy of new millennium musicals: Bamboozled, Passing Strange and Chi-Raq. Don’t worry: your Viagra musical is in great hands.
As for who is writing the music and original songs for the film, the acclaimed songwriting team of Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald have been brought on. Having worked with Lee on Passing Strange, winning them a Tony, Stewart and Rodewald are reason alone to be excited for this musical.
Matt Jackson’s Jackson Pictures, alongside Spike Lee’s studio 40 Acres and a Mule, will produce the musical. When asked by Deadline about the film, Lee thanked his mother getting him into musicals with: “I Thank My Late Mother For As She Would Say Taking “My Narrow, Rusty Behind” Dragging, Kickin’ And Screamin’ To The Movies When I Wuz A Nappy Headed Kid Growing Up In Da Streets Of Da People’s Republic Of Brooklyn”. It’s clear that while the concept is more than a little bizarre, as with many films in Lee’s filmography it will have a personal connection to him and only make it better.
It seems that in 2020, the company we should lay our thanks at is Pfizer: a COVID-19 vaccine and the inspiration for one of the more memorable musicals of the modern generation. Looks like things are finally on the up: or at least will be for the next two to three hours.
Words by George Bell
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