Sony Pictures Classics announced recently that they have acquired worldwide rights to Don Cheadle’s directorial debut, Miles ahead. Miles ahead tells the story of a few lost days in the life of Miles Davis, the virtuoso, fighter and genius, as he bursts out of his silent period, conspires with a Rolling Stone writer to steal back his music, and relives the years he had with his great love, Frances Taylor. The film was recently announced as this year’s Closing Night selection for the 53rd New York Film Festival.
“Miles was many things…a supreme artist and a national treasure but also an enigma to those around him, especially during his so-called quiet period,” said Cheadle. “With the family’s blessing and Miles’ tenets on creativity as our guide, we used these cloistered years as a jumping off point to compose the story of a self-exiled artist creating his own ‘centrifugal adventure’ to spin himself back into playing music again. And now I’m delighted that we’ve found the perfect partners in Michael, Tom and the SPC team to take this journey with us.”
Written by Steven Baigelman and Cheadle, MILES AHEAD stars Cheadle, Ewan McGregor, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Keith Stanfield. Cheadle, Lenore Zerman, Pamela Hirsch, Daniel Wagner, Robert Ogden Barnum, Darryl Porter and Vince Wilburn, Jr. produced the film. Mark Amin, Baigelman, Jonathan Gardner and Brian Pope executive produced. Davis’ son, Erin Davis, and daughter, Cheryl Davis, are also executive producers, and the film was made with the participation of The Miles Davis Estate.
“What Don Cheadle has done here with the spirit of Miles Davis is truly astounding. We are not only witnessing for the first time this part of Miles Davis’ story as it deserves to be told, but also the birth of a major film director who happens to portray the iconic singer in a jaw dropping performance. This movie will be embraced by audiences everywhere and we are so pleased to help make that happen,” stated Sony Pictures Classics.