It seems like we've been talking about this film for years now, but it looks like there may have been some significant progression of the Don Cheadle-shepherded film about jazz icon Miles Davis. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (via ShadowAndAct), Davis Estate heirs Erin Davis and Vince Wilburn Jr. have revealed that project will no longer see Cheadle at the helm — as has been the plan for as long as we remember — and that Antoine Fuqua is now slated to direct the picture that has previously been described as a '70's cubist gangster pic.
"It's a script written by Steven Baigelman, it's not a cradle to the grave biopic," Willburn Jr. explained. "We don't want to give it away, we want to come and really put the blast on ya with Don and Antoine Fuqua who's directing." It's not the first time Fuqua's name has been dropped though. In another interview with Spanish publication ABC (via MilesDavis), Davis Estate manager Erin Davis also mentions Fuqua as the helmer, which seemingly confirms his involvement, but adds that the film's release will also coincide with a remix album of the trumpeter tunes with current hip-hop artists.
It certainly sounds like things are definitely coming together with star Cheadle noting earlier this year that they finally had "a studio offer" and was trying to get a budget in place. We're sure Fuqua's involvement and the connected remix albums have only sped things up with former Miles Davis Quartet member Herbie Hancock also excitingly on board to score the film.
But it also should be noted, Antoine Fuqua tends to be attached to a zillion projects at the same time, so who knows if he'll wind up being the guy to take this over the line. But in any event, it seems momentum on this continues to roll forward.