In 2005, Ebert became the first film critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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“Russ & Roger” tells the story of the creation of Ebert and Meyers’ exploitation film “Beyond The Valley of The Dolls”.
Prior to today’s announcement, 22 Jump Street star Jonah Hill had been linked with the role of Roger Ebert, though it’s understood Gad has long been the producers’ lead choice for the coveted part.
The news follows last week’s announcement that Chicago actor and musician Kevin Pollack will play Ebert in a musical about the critic’s romance with wife Chaz, “The Black/White Love Play”, making its world premiere later this month at the Black Ensemble Theatre in Chicago.
Bob Simonds’ STX Leisure will finance and distribute the pic.
Michael Winterbottom (The Face of an Angel) will direct the film with Chris Cluess (TV’s MADtv) penning the script. David Permut, Mark Amin and Richard Waltzer will produce the film.
Production on Russ & Roger – which has since dropped the Go Beyond subtitle – is set to get underway before the year’s end ahead of a theatrical release in 2016.
Gad was most lately seen in Display Gems’ “The Wedding ceremony Ringer” and Sony’s “Pixels” and can also be lending his voice to the DreamWorks Animation pic “Me and My Shadow”.
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The actor just finished filming on Disney’s live-action reboot of “Beauty and the Beast” where he plays sidekick LeFou.
