Wu-Tang Clan fans, rejoice! The first-ever official documentary about the founding member of the world-famous hip-hop group is in production.Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastardis a two-hour feature that is produced by A&E Network and ODB’s estate. The documentary is slated for a 2023 release and details of what it will cover have already been announced.
The documentary is set to chronicle every aspect ofRussell “Ol' Dirty Bastard” Jones’ short life (he died at 35 due to a drug overdose). The movie will chronicle ODB’s roots starting with his solo career and the turning point in his life that came with the foundation of the Wu-Tang Clan. ODB’s talent for music was unparalleled: his unique persona and rhyme style set him apart and earned him three Grammy nominations in the late 90s.
The movie will also take a look at ODB’s traumatic childhood, and how his upbringing influenced his life and career. In addition,Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastardwill not shy away from any topic, which includes dissecting the protagonist’s addiction, adultery, fame, mental illness, sudden wealth, race and criminal justice. All of this is paired with personal home videos captured by ODB’s wifeIcelene Jones, as well as interviews from close friends and family members, all put together to paint a complex picture of the musician.
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In an official statement, Jones revealed she’s excited to share with the public a variety of sides of her husband that the world never knew:
“I am thrilled to tell the full story of my husband. With this documentary the world will learn about the son, the husband, the father, and the artist. I’m proud of the team that we built, including Pulse, my producing partners Nicole Beckett and Messiah Jacobs at Four Screens, and our directing team, the Pollards.”
Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastardis directed by Academy Award nomineeSam Pollard, along with his sonJason Pollard, which makes the documentary a family project in many aspects. Pollard (father), has an extensive filmography with projects that chronicle in detail the stories of Black icons such asMartin Luther King Jr.inMLK/FBI, and tennis playerArthur AsheinCitizen Ashe. Pollard (son) is a successful editor who’s worked on titles likeSpike Lee’sInside Manand Netflix’sGet Me Roger Stone.He’s making his directorial debut.
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group that revealed to the world legendary artists likeMethod Man,RZA,Ghostface Killlah, andGZA. Their debut albumEnter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)is considered one of the greatest albums of all time, and the group has influenced countless artists that range fromJay-ZtoChildish Gambino. The Hulu seriesWu-Tang: An American Saga, which chronicles the formation of the group, has recently been renewed for the third and final season.
Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastardis slated for a 2023 release, but a specific date is yet to be announced by A&E.
Check out the official synopsis here:
Produced by Pulse Films (AppleTV+’s Beastie Boys Story, Beyonce’s Lemonade and Katy Perry’s Part of Me) with Four Screens and the Ol’ Dirty Bastard Estate, the documentary will center on ODB’s solo career, from his first album release in 1995 until his untimely passing from a drug overdose in 2004. Charting his meteoric rise and heart-breaking fall, the film will interweave this modern narrative with looks back at his trauma-filled childhood to examine how it influenced the man and artist he would become. A celebration of his artistry and legacy, the documentary is an unflinching look at the complexities of his life including addiction, adultery, fame, mental illness, sudden wealth, race and criminal justice, and will ask the question of just how complicit the media and music industry were in hastening his demise.
