5/18/2009

in

Life story of Martin Luther King, Jr. finally hits the silver screen.

Stefan Julian

Steven Spielberg will produce a biopic on Martin Luther King, Jr., according to the *New York Times*. This is possible because DreamWorks has secured King's life rights, which include speeches and other writings, from his estate. This will be an addition to Spielberg's history of non-fiction films which include *Schindler's List*, about the Holocaust, and *Saving Private Ryan*, about World War II. According to the Associated Press, two of King's children, Bernice and Martin Luther King III, immediately opposed the film deal signed by their brother, Dexter King, threatening legal action because the deal was made without their consultation. Several movies for television have been made about Martin Luther King, Jr., but only one documentary was shown in movie theaters on only one day, March 24, 1970, titled: *King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis*. This is a long overdue recognition of King, according to *Entertainment Weekly*, and now his life and legacy will be appreciated by those who would have never been able to appreciate it before.