Justin Timberlake and Zac Efron are reportedly both eyeing the lead role in the big screen adaptation of the hit musical, “Memphis,” which recently took home four Tony awards, including the statue for Best Musical.
The NY Post (via THR) reports that both Timberlake and Efron have been spotted at recent performances, with speculation building that both want the lead role of 1950s DJ Huey Calhoun in the story based on real-life DJ Dewey Phillips who dared to spin black music.
While no formal announcement of a movie has been made, talks are apparently already happening with reps for Oliver Stone confirming he has met with with the show’s writers Joe DiPietro and David Bryan with an interest to direct the film. It might seem at first glance to be an odd choice, but Stone is no stranger to music-based films (“The Doors”) and certainly the race-based setting of the story would be right in the director’s wheelhouse of controversial subject matter.
This is all very early and preliminary but expect “Memphis” to draw some considerable talent as it goes through the hoops to get made into a feature film.