Spike Lee to direct film musical about viagra: ‘I can’t wait’

Director shared an excitable statement as he announced the new project

Spike Lee is directing a musical film about the origin story of Viagra, the erectile dysfunction drug discovered by Pfizer.  

Deadline reports that the movie will be based on David Kushner’s article for Esquire, which was titled: “All Rise: The Untold Story of the Guys Who Launched Viagra.”

The currently untitled project will feature original songs and music written by Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald, the duo behind Tony-winning musical Passing Strange.  

Lee wrote the screenplay with British playwright and actor Kwame Kwei-Armah.

He said in an excitable statement: “First And Foremost,I Thank Ms. Jacquelyn Shelton Lee. I Thank My Late Mother For As She Would Say Taking “My Narrow,Rusty Behind” Dragging,Kickin’ And Screamin’ To The Movies When I Wuz A Nappy Headed Kid Growing Up In Da Streets Of Da People’s Republic Of Brooklyn. I Did Not Want To See Corny People Singin’ And Dancin’.  

“I Instead Wanted To Play With My Friends On Da Block,Stoop Ball,Stick Ball,Punch Ball, Soft Ball, Basketball,2 Hand Touch, Tackle Football, Coco Leevio, Johnny On Da Pony, Hot,Peas And Butter, Crack Top,Down Da Sewer And Of Course-Booty’s Up. All The Great New York City Street Games That Might Be Sadly Lost Forever."

He continued: “My Father,Bill Lee,Jazz/Folk Bassist,Composer HATED HollyWeird Movies,Henceforth And What Not,Me Being The Eldest Of 5 Children I Became Mommy’s Movie Date. She Was A Cinefile. Thank You Lawdy She Didn’t Listen To My Ongoing Complaints About Musicals.  

“So Finally Going Into My 4th Decade As A Filmmaker I Will Be Directing An DANCIN’,ALL SINGIN’ MUSICAL Spike Lee Joint And I Can’t Wait. My Moms Has Been Waiting TOO!!! And Dats Da Rodgers And Hammerstein Truth,Ruth.”

Lee’s latest project has been announced shortly after the release of his critically acclaimed Netflix drama, Da 5 Bloods, and HBO Max’s David Byrne’s American Utopia.  

He won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar in 2019 for his film BlackKklansman.