Mary J Blige To Begin Filming Nina Simone Biopic In September

The news of Mary J. Blige taking on the role of Nina Simone in a forthcoming biopic based upon the High Priestess Of Soul isn’t really news at all.

The project has been in the works for several years now, but it looks like all of the contracts have been signed, as the film is set to begin filming in September of this year, according to Variety.

The film will center around Simone’s later years, specifically her relationship with her assistant Clifton Henderson, played by David Oyelowo (“The Last King of Scotland”).

While I’m happy that someone thought Nina’s life was worthy of a film, I’m wondering if there were no people with real acting talent available to film. Nobody’s asking Halle Berry to record an R&B album, so why are folks like Mary J Blige, Beyoncé and that non-acting mofo Common being cast in films???

And Mary can’t sing like Nina…