Super Freak will chart the unhinged highs and subterranean lows of a funk icon.
An upcoming limited series from Universal Studio Group will attempt to make some sense out of the impossibly controversial life of the late Rick James.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, USG has announced Super Freak, a series the studio describes as “a funkadelic mix of music biopic and true crime,” charting the funk icon’s rise through the 1960s and 1970s, before finally breaking out as a bonafide star in the 1980s. The series will also reportedly cover James’ attempt at a comeback in the early 1990s while standing trial for kidnapping and assault, as well as battling a crack addiction outside of the court system.
James’ daughter, Ty James has signed on to executive produce the treatment, which is being written and directed by Randy McKinnon. “We are truly ecstatic about this new project with UCP and extremely excited to work with the writer Randy McKinnon,” says Ty James in a statement. “We are confident he can give the fans exactly what they have been waiting on, plus some. This will be a magic carpet ride, with ups and downs, joys and pain,” she adds.
It’s unclear what James and McKinnon will use as source material for the series. The autobiography Confessions of Rick James: Memoir of a Super Freak was published in 2007, holding some wild and wholly unhinged tales from the man himself. Another biography, Glow, was released in 2015 with the assistance of editor David Ritz, who is also attached to the TV series as an executive producer. With Ritz’s involvement, it seems likely they’ll use the latter, but both are more than worth the time.
A release window has yet to be announced. Hold tight for updates in the weeks and months ahead.