Lee Daniels to Direct Doc on Apollo Theater

LOS ANGELES: Empire‘s Lee Daniels has signed on to direct the documentary feature The Apollo Theater Film Project, which will explore the history of the legendary New York theater.

Daniels (The Butler, Precious) and Jonelle Procope, the president and CEO of the Apollo Theater, are jointly making an appeal to members of the public, audience-goers and fans for film footage, home movies, photographs or other memorabilia that may have been accumulated by members of the community in the course of its more than 80 years of live performances.

Impact Partners, STUDIOCANAL and Universal Music Group are financing the project along with The Chicago Media Project. STUDIOCANAL is handling international distribution. The project is produced by Nigel Sinclair and Jeanne Elfant Festa.

Daniels commented, “I am honored to be entrusted with the story of this incredible American iconic institution and work with this team. I used to go to the Apollo Theater as a kid and never in a million years would I have imagined I would be back to be doing this—it is very special for me.”