Considering Marlon Brando was the greatest actor that ever lived, it’s a wonder why it’s taken so long for a biopic to arise based on the memoirs of those that knew him best. Finally, we could see just that as one of Brando’s best friends, George Englund’s memoir The Way It’s Never Been Done Before has been optioned for a movie outing on the legend.
Rush, Black Swan and Hacksaw Ridge producer, Brian Oliver will produce the film for the newly established New Republic Pictures. Oliver said of the new commission;
“George and Marlon’s friendship spanned five decades and covered all the ups and downs in the actor’s career and personal life,” stated Oliver. “It makes for both an epic portrayal of the greatest actor ever to grace the silver screen and an intimate story of two men with an almost brotherly bond.”
Considered the greatest movie actor of all time, rivaled only by the more theatrically oriented Laurence Olivier in terms of esteem. Unlike Olivier, who preferred the stage to the screen. Brando won eight Oscars in his lifetime, his first came in 1954 with A Streetcar Named Desire with his second coming 18 years later for his portrayal of Don Vito Corleone in 1972’s The Godfather. Brando went on to star in films such as Guys and Dolls alongside Frank Sinatra, On the Waterfront and Superman as Jor-El to name but a few in a career that spanned over 54 years.
Englund and Brando had been friends since the 50’s, he not only directed the actor in 1963’s The Ugly American but also run Brando’s production company. Englund died earlier in 2017.
Black Beach Films’ Greg Lauritano and TriMotion Films’ Rick Clemens will serve as executive producers. Entertainment attorney Valerie Nemeth represented the Englund estate in the deal.
