Last month we reported that Academy Award-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) was briefly attached to direct Paramount’s upcoming Justin Bieber biopic, but ultimately decided to pass on the project for totally legitimate reasons like not wanting to look like a complete tool. Luckily for Paramount and their teen singing sensation, there were reportedly close to 20 directors who immediately offered themselves up for the job in the wake of Guggenheim’s timely departure.
Now, Paramount Pictures confirms that Step Up 3D director Jon Chu will helm the Bieber feature with the help of production team Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz (Top Chef, Project Runway). Filming has already begun in Nashville, where Chu is shooting Bieber’s concert and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. Production is slated to culminate with the singer’s August 31 performance in Madison Square Garden, which will be captured in 3D.
“When I was approached about doing Justin’s film, I jumped at the opportunity to tell a story with honesty and heart,” said Chu in a statement from Paramount. “Most people don’t know that his is a true underdog story, and I hope to tell it in a compelling, genuine way, using all source materials available to convey his tale of becoming an icon for this digital age.”
Obviously, and with all due respect to America’s teenaged female population, I don’t care too much for this project, which seems to me a particularly boldfaced ploy to solicit tweens’ allowance money – especially with the unnecessary addition of 3D’s higher ticket prices. But at the very least I can concede that Jon Chu is probably the right man for this kind of hack job, having proved capable of turning a solid profit on Step Up 2: The Streets and his most recent Step Up 3D.
“This is the story of a new voice continuing the tradition of musicians that defined their generation,” continued Chu in his statement. Really Chu? “Defined their generation?” I sincerely hope that’s not true. More like “will probably get a 2-minute spot on VH1’s I Love the 2000s.” Sigh.
Source: Deadline
