Lee Daniels Says His Mariah Carey Biopic Will Be ‘Bigger Than a Film’: ‘It’s An Epic Limited Series’

Lee Daniels is no stranger to giving some of history’s most noted figures their flowers.

The Academy Award-nominated director is not only responsible for the award-winning 2013 film ‘The Butler’ (loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen), but he’s also enjoying acclaim for directing the 2021 film, ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ (for which its star, Andra Day, nabbed a Best Actress Academy Award nomination).

Now, he has his sights set on Pop icon/longtime friend Mariah Carey.

As fans of Carey (affectionately called #Lambs) know, the GRAMMY winner is still rolling in positive reviews from her September 2020-released memoir, ‘The Meaning of Mariah Carey.’  During her promotional run for the book, she revealed its content would guide the soon-to-be-written script for her long awaited biopic.  It was later rumored Daniels – who previously worked with Mariah on the critically acclaimed 2009 film ‘Precious’ – would likely direct the movie.

During his interview on SiriusXM’s ‘Andy Cohen Live’ Wednesday (March 24), Lee was asked to confirm his rumored involvement with adapting ‘Meaning’ to a film.  He suggested a 2-hour movie wouldn’t be enough to tell the entire story.

“Yes, but I think it’s bigger than a film,” Daniels told him. “I think that if there’s so much to her thing, I think it’s an epic limited series. I think that, I think it’s as big as Aretha [Franklin’s] story. I’m watching that right now, which is really good with Cynthia [Erivo].”

Sharing additional thoughts about the book, the celebrated director revealed:

“I think that she’s so misunderstood … I didn’t know really how her mind ticked until I read that damn book and realized that she is what defines a diva, what really defines a diva. And it’s a complicated life that she’s had. And every song that she’s had was written from a traumatic or a powerful experience. And she doesn’t get credit for that either. So I’m excited about exploring that story. We just got to find somebody that’s going to be right to play her, which is going to be impossible, but you know, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Watch the clip in full above.  As of time reported, no official release date is tied to the pending project.

[Photo Credit: Michael Kovac/Wireimage]