McQueen biopic gives Sgt. Presley a major promotion

Elvis biographer Marshall Terrill will make his big screen debut with a Steve McQueen biopic and hopes producers will give “The King” the royal treatment for his next screen adaptation.

The Hollywood Reporter announced on April 28 that two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker and The Town) has formed a production company, The Combine, and will play Steve McQueen in an upcoming biopic.

“I'm absolutely thrilled because this has been 20 years in the making,” said Terrill, who has written three books on Presley. “Renner is perfect as McQueen and is probably the hottest star on the planet right now.”

Writer-director James Gray, who wrote and directed We Own the Night and Two Lovers, is attached to write the McQueen screenplay, which will be based on the two books by Marshall Terrill: Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel (1993) and Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon (2010). Video director Ivan Zacharias is attached to make his directorial debut on the project.

Renner will produce the McQueen project with Academy Award-winning Hurt Locker producer Greg Shapiro, Cross Creek Pictures’ Brian Oliver (one of the producers of Black Swan), and Zacharias’ producing partner Nick Landon.

Creative Artists Agency, who represents the likes of Steven Spielberg, Sandra Bullock, Will Smith, James Cameron, George Clooney and Meryl Streep, packaged the project.

Terrill says this latest development gives Sgt. Presley, a book he co-authored with Rex and Elisabeth Mansfield about Presley’s stint in the Army, a major boost.

“The movie was optioned by producer Peer Oppenheimer in 2009 and this announcement can only help in our quest to get Sgt. Presley to the silver screen,” Terrill said. “This movie is about about the forces of friendship, duty, passion, deception and love, and is the next Elvis movie that should get made.”

Terrill is the author of 15 books and three of his other works are in development to be made into movies. His next project is an oral biography, photo album and documentary on rock and roll roadies. He hopes to include a section on Presley.