Will play the late comedic genius.
Filmmaker Larry Charles (‘The Dictator,’ ‘Bruno,’ ‘Borat’) is set to step behind the camera to direct Josh Gad (‘Jobs,’ ‘The Internship,’ ‘The Book of Mormon’) in a biopic based on Pentecostal preacher-turned-manic stand-up comedian Sam Kinison.
Based on the book ‘Brother Sam by’ Bill Kinison and penned by Rich Wilkes (‘xXx’) the film follows Kinison throughout the 80s, as he transitions from the family business of Pentecostal preaching and into stand up comedy in Hollywood. Kinison shot to stardom, but fell deep into the world of drugs and alcohol. After years of self-abuse, the comedian cleaned up his act and conquered his demons, but in a cruel irony, the sober Kinison was killed in a head-on collision with a drunken driver in 1992 at age 38.
Producer David Permut tells Deadline, “There was nothing conventional about Sam Kinison and neither will be the cinematic interpretation of his life. Larry Charles is the perfect director to bring Rich Wilkes’ incredible script to screen, and Josh Gad’s tremendous ability to morph into a role will bring great depth to Kinison’s larger than life persona.”