Milli Vanilli biopic in the works

Posted: Wed., Feb. 14, 2007, 7:00pm PT
Universal sets up Milli Vanilli film

Nathanson to write, direct biopic

By Michael Fleming



Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to make a film about
Milli Vanilli, the duo that rose to the top of the pop charts and fell
just as quickly when they were exposed as frauds.

Jeff Nathanson will write the script and direct the film. Kathleen Kennedy will produce.
Nathanson, who presented a sympathetic look at a check forger in
"Catch Me if You Can," became intrigued with the notion of taking a
similar tack on the music industry tale. He has secured the cooperation
of Fabrice Morvan, as well as the estate of Rob Pilatus, who died in
1998 as the pair were attempting a comeback.

Pilatus and Morvan were hired by producer Frank Farian to front
Milli Vanilli. Farian already had songs recorded by three other
singers. Pilatus and Morvan became trapped in a lie when Milli Vanilli
topped the charts and sold millions of records. Desperate to end the
charade, the duo refused to promote a follow-up album unless Farian let
them sing. Instead, he blew the whistle.

Their Grammy Award was rescinded, class action lawsuits were
filed, and Milli Vanilli was dropped from the Arista roster. Pilatus
took it hardest, falling into drug abuse and serving time for robbery
before dying from a drug overdose right before a reunion album could be
released.

"I've always been fascinated by the notion of fakes and frauds,
and in this case, you had guys who pulled off the ultimate con, selling
30 million singles and 11 million albums and then becoming the biggest
laughing-stocks of pop entertainment," Nathanson said. "Fabrice had
always refused to sell their rights; he was very cautious of Hollywood
after all he'd been through. But my intention is to tell this story
from their point of view."
Nathanson will begin writing as soon as production is completed on "Rush Hour 3," which he scripted.

He is repped by UTA.

Nystyle709 wrote:Milli Vanilli was cool, but I don't think I would be interested in seeing this. Shit, I already saw their Behind the Music.

Nystyle709 wrote:Milli Vanilli was cool, but I don't think I would be interested in seeing this. Shit, I already saw their Behind the Music.

Nhaiyel wrote:Now they know they're wrong for trying to bring this to the big screen. The rise and fall of Milli Vanilli is a plot for a "Made-for-TV" movie if I have ever saw one.