Lady Gaga is to play Cilla Black in a new biopic based on the life of soul singer Dionne Warwick.
No, really.
This is a real thing. This is a thing that’s going to happen.
Lady Gaga, is going to play Cilla Black. In a movie. A big American one too.
The biopic will be adapted from Dionne Warwick’s autobiography, My Life, As I See It, which in part covers the long-standing feud Dionne had with Cilla over their versions of song Anyone Who Had a Heart.
Cilla’s cover version of Dionne’s song reached number 1 in the UK charts in 1964 and eclipsed the original in popularity, causing much contention between the two.
The biopic was announced at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday morning. Asked to elaborate on her relationship with Cilla, Dionne said she regarded the Blind Date host as her nemesis.
“She stole my music, and I was not a very happy camper about that,” Warwick told the press conference. Dionne did explain further that by the time of Cilla’s passing in 2015, they were no longer rivals. “Over the years, we grew up and understood each other,” Warwick said. “It all got cleared away.”
(Images via Getty)
Former Destiny’s Child singer LeToya Luckett will play Warwick, while Danny Glover (yes, that’s Roger Murtaugh from the Lethal Weapon films) will play her father.
It’s certainly shaping up to be a powerful biopic, even without the Cilla Black cameo.
Gaga will have her work cut out for her, as television viewers will remember Sheridan Smith’s excellent portrayal of Cilla Black in the ITV mini series Cilla. The role saw Sheridan nominated for a BAFTA.
Nevertheless, we’re really excited as to how all of this will turn out. Just from the sheer curiosity of seeing Lady Gaga try a Scouse accent.
