Musician and producer Romeo Antonio has earned the support of the Cooke family to develop a film based on legendary soul singer Sam Cooke's life and untimely death at age 33. Mary Krell-Oishi will write the screenplay.

Cooke was well known and acclaimed in the 50s and early 60s as a powerful singer and performer who became an important figure in the Civil Rights movement, using his music to advance the cause, most notably on the 1964 song 'A Change is Gonna Come.' It would be one of his last songs; he was killed by a hotel manager in 1964, which was ruled a justifiable homicide but has been scrutinized in the years since. It has been speculated that Cooke was killed for his prominent role in the Civil Rights movement.

The movie will reportedly incorporate murder mystery elements pertaining to the mysterious circumstances and questions surrounding Cooke's death. No idea when we'll be seeing it yet but keep an eye on Hot Press for any updates!