While most remember the late Roger Ebert for his countless contributions to the art of film criticism, the man also embarked on his own journey in Hollywood on the production side. A feature-length documentary on his life is currently in the works from Martin Scorsese, Steve James and Steven Zaillian, which is sure to explore some of this aspect, we’ll also be getting feature narrative comedy on this specific time period in Ebert’s life.
Revealed in a press release, the project is titled Russ & Roger Go Beyond, coming from a screenplay by frequent MADtv and early SNL writer Christopher Cluess. The story will follow director Russ Meyer and beginning of his relationship with Ebert, with whom he brought on to write 1970’s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Although it debuted to major success, it was a struggle to bring it to the screens, which the film will explore with a comedic tone. There’s no word yet on who will direct the project, but we’d have to imagine the casting process will be a laborious one. As we await more details, check out the trailer for the original film and the press release below.
Mark Amin’s Sobini Films is partnering with David Permut’s Permut Presentations and Richard Waltzer’s Chautauqua Entertainment to acquire RUSS & ROGER GO BEYOND, a screenplay written by Emmy winner Christopher Cluess (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE SIMPSONS) based on the true story of the unique relationship between provocative filmmaker Russ Meyer and legendary critic Roger Ebert while they made BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS at 20th Century Fox.
Permut, Amin and Waltzer will produce the film with Sobini Films’ Cami Winikoff, Tyler Boehm and David Higgins and Permut Presentations’ Chris Mangano Executive Producing, and Steve Longi Co-producing.
At the end of the 60’s when films like EASY RIDER and BONNIE & CLYDE were reaching new audiences, Meyer, the outlaw director of soft-core pulp films like FASTER PUSSYCAT, KILL, KILL, KILL was given the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream of directing a studio film by Richard Zanuck, then head of 20th Century Fox. The studio was struggling with a string of big budget failures and Zanuck thought Meyer was the solution. He offered him BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS and Meyer agreed on the condition that Ebert, then the third string film critic for the Chicago Sun Times (who had written one of the few positive reviews of his work) would write the script. BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS became a struggle between the outsider filmmakers and the establishment studio’s board of directors, particularly over the film’s rating. Meyer, Ebert and Zanuck were ultimately vindicated when BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS was released in 1970 to huge box office success.
Meyer and Ebert remained friends until Meyer passed away in September 2004. Ebert passed away earlier this year after a long public battle with cancer. Last month the Toronto International Film Festival’s opening night paid tribute to Roger Ebert’s life and career.
Are you interested in a film based on this production? Who should play Ebert?