After an appearance at this year’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas, actor Tyrese Gibson announced that he would be starring in an upcoming biopic, with LatinoReview reporting that the model-turned-actor has been set to play the famous R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass.
An American R&B and singer/songwriter who rose to fame in the 1970’s, he was the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blues Notes, while later going on to become a well known solo artist. In 1982, after a car accident, the singer was left paralyzed from the waist down. He started the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to help those with spinal cord injuries upon his death in 2010.
Although Gibson is no stranger to singing, this is the first time he will be doing so in a feature film. I’m not too familiar with his musical career, but I have seen some of his acting credits — which, I have to be honest, aren’t anything to write home about. Although his talent may be worthwhile in something like Fast Five, I’m having trouble envisioning Gibson playing such a serious role. Although it worked for some in 2001 with Baby Boy, I’m not too convinced.
As for his legacy in the Fast & Furious franchise, Gibson was asked if he would be returning for the (so very unnecessary) sixth installment. He stated, “the film is definitely in motion and I’m not locked in officially, officially yet. We’ll just see what happens.” So, for the people still out there that enjoy the franchise — and there are still several — I guess you’ll have something to look forward to.
What do you think of Gibson’s newest acting gigs?