From Variety-News on Paula's new project
Lee Daniels to direct 'Push'
Sapphire adaptation to star Kravitz, Mo'nique
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Daniels
Kravitz
Lee Daniels will direct "Push," an independently financed adaptation of the bestselling novel by Sapphire (Ramona Lofton). Rocker Lenny Kravitz will make his feature-starring debut alongside Mo'nique, Paula Patton and newcomer Gabourey "Gabbie" Sidibe.
Geoffrey Fletcher-scripted pic is a co-production of Lee Daniels Entertainment and Smokewood Entertainment Group, with the latter financing. Production is just getting under way in New York.
Story concerns Clareece "Precious" Jones, an overweight, illiterate African-American teen in Harlem. Just as she's about to give birth to her second child, Jones is accepted into an alternative school where a teacher (Patton) helps her find an alternative path in her life. Mo'nique plays the girl's mother and Kravitz plays a nurse who shows kindness to Jones.
Sidibe won the role of Precious after 300 young girls auditioned in casting calls around the country.
"Push" is "as important to me as 'Roots,' and I'm honored that Sapphire entrusted me with her book," said Daniels, who after producing films like "Monster's Ball" and "The Woodsman," made his directing debut on the Helen Mirren-Cuba Gooding Jr. starrer "Shadowboxer."
As producer, Daniels recently wrapped the Mariah Carey starrer "Tennessee," directed by Aaron Woodley and financed by Smokewood Entertainment Group.
"Push" is being exec produced by Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness, Lisa Cortes and Tom Heller.
*Let me just say that Paula is stepping her game up after doing two iffy projects-that "Mirrors" horror flick with Kiefer Sutherland (I am the world's biggest horror buff, but the film sounded lame and when was the last time a Kiefer Sutherland movie got acclaim or box office?) and the movie where she plays a female pimp (the last thing the black community needs is to see the street game from a female's point of view.) But Paula's movie "Swing Vote" with heavy hitters like Kevin Costner (ok, so his movies generally suck, but there are other good actors in it) and now "Push", bode well. Plus, Lee Daniels is directing-the man knows good material and has the goods. He led Halle to an Oscar and that was like leading a blind man to water (I love Halle, but she is no Bette Davis). I met the writer of the book when it came out-Sapphire is very nice-and I remember the book was critically acclaimed and a best seller. Go Paula!