'Soul Train' Movie In Works!?!

Warner Brothers has announced that they intend to make a Soul Train movie based off the dancing television show and have hired Malcolm Spellman to pen a script. Variety broke the staggering news this morning and I have been unenthusiastic by the idea since. For more details on "Soul Train" scroll down...


The idea is to make a period piece that is set in the 1980's that follows a urban street dancer from Los Angeles who believes he can change his life for the better if he makes it on the television show Soul Train. Spellman told Variety a little bit about the character he is writing. He explained, "This guy is a serious popper, with street edge, and he wants to get on that tour, with the hottest of the hot." Spellman also spoke about how much of an influence Soul Train was. He said, "All of the hip-hop street dances you see today were born during that time period and were first seen on that show, and I remember doing all of them when I was a kid."

Malcolm Spellman is a bit of an odd choice for the scipt considering his only major writing credits go with the video game The Sopranos: Road to Respect. Variety sites he had a part in writing the 1995 Hughes brother film Dead Presidents, however he is definitely not credited by imdb. The film will be produced by Darryl Porter, Aaron Geller and Don Cornelius who served as the host as producer on the television show during its run from 1971-2006. Spellman added how excited he was to be working with Don Cornelius on the project. He said, "Writing with Don involved is quite an experience. He's still the godfather of cool."

Similair to "Fame", Step Up or any other dance flick over the years, "Soul Train" seems primed for a specific demographic. That said, "Soul Train" does have the potential to be a cool period piece tracing back some of todays current dance trends to the 1980's. While some may be disappointed that the film will not focus on the 70's disco/funk era, a 80's period piece will definitely be an easier sell for general audiences. More news on "Soul Train" as it develops...

What say you? Does Soul Train strike your fancy? Will you be popping your way to cinemas when Soul Train releases? Strikeback...