Here’s something we didn’t know we needed. It has been announced that Westbrook Studios and Davis Entertainment are entering development on a Summertime movie, a hip-hop musical based on the popular song by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff (via Deadline). Peter Saji is on board to write and direct for Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems as his feature film debut.
The plot for the Summertime movie is being kept under wraps but Smith and Jone Mone will produce for Westbrook Studios, alongside Davis Entertainment’s John Davis, John Fox, and Jeremy Stein, and Screen Gems’ Giselle Johnson. While the plot of the film is being kept a secret, maybe the song’s history can be a hint on where this project is headed.
“Summertime” served as the lead single on DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s fourth studio album, “Homebase.” The song, released in May of 1991, has been a huge summer staple over the years and usually signals the start of the season for most of us when we hear it. The song eventually won the collaborators a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a duo or group.
Saji is coming from a television background heading into this project but he may just be the right man for it. He served as a writer and EP on ABC’s Black-ish, and was responsible for two of the series’ acclaimed musical episodes. He also co-created and wrote on its ABC spin-off, Mixed-ish.
What are YOUR thoughts on this Summertime movie project?