Steve Conrad to Write and Direct John Belushi Biopic

An untitled biopic depicting comedian John Belushi’s life, which was previously set up at Warner Bros., will now proceed production as an indie film.
Originally, Steve Conrad was the scriptwriter and Todd Phillips was set as producer and director. Phillips has stepped away from the project, and Conrad will now direct the film.
Conrad has writing credits on The Weather Man (2005), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), The Promotion (2008) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013). In addition, he served as co-producer on The Weather Man. He also wrote and directed the 2011 TV movie, Connie Banks the Actor.
Belushi is a Hollywood icon who famously died at age 33 from a drug overdose in 1982 at the Chateau Marmont.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Insiders say the biopic hopes to tell the story of a man that embodied both the glory and the tragedy of the American dream as it focuses on Belushi at the height of his fame.”
The biopic is another on-screen attempt to portray Belushi’s life. The first came in the form of the 1989 adaptation of Wired, a book by legendary journalist Bob Woodward.
According to THR article, Woodward’s book was “reportedly boycotted by Belushi’s friends and family,” and that the upcoming biopic “is promising to be different: Belushi’s widow, Judy Belushi Pisano, is one of the producers and [Dan] Aykroyd is on board as an executive producer.” Aykroyd is one of John Belushi’s best friends.
In more news of new movie deals, bestselling author Dennis Lehane has been brought on board by 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment to write the script for Silk Road. Check out the ScreenCraft post, “Dennis Lehane to Adapt “Silk Road.”
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