Wendell Pierce set to play B. B. King
'The Wire' star Wendell Pierce will play 'The King of the Blues'
Last updated 2nd Nov 2020
Actor Wendell Pierce has confirmed he’ll be playing the part of B. B. King in a new movie which promises to dramatise the relationship between the blues legend and his friend the producer and drummer Michael Zanetis.
The film is called The Thrill is On and tells the story of the campaign to get King a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. The project has reportedly long been in the works, with it first being announced in 2011.
Meanwhile, there has been confusion since the announcement was made, as B.B.King’s estate is working on their own official biopic is also in the works for next year.
The widely-acclaimed Wendell Pierce, who will be playing King, is best known for his work in TV series such as The Wire, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and Suits, as well as starting in films including Malcom X, Selma and Ray.