Manilow's Movie Move

Barry Manilow, matinee idol?

Single Cell partners Sandy Stern and Michael Stipe and Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman have joined forces to develop a romantic comedy that will exploit the song catalogue of iconic singer/songwriter Barry Manilow. Manilow’s manager, Garry Kief., will also produce.

Deal follows Sony’s recent deal to make a theatrical release of rehearsal footage from Michael Jackson’s final concert, and Disney’s negotiations to make a Robert Zemeckis-directed “Yellow Submarine” remake in performance capture 3-D that will use classic Beatles songs.

Manilow has pledged his support, and songs, to the project. The producers will first take the project to Universal, where Playtone has its first-look deal.

Though Playtone produced the U blockbuster “Mamma Mia!,” the idea for the film is closer in tone to “Love Actually.” Characters will not follow a plot and burst into song, as Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan and others sang from the Abba catalog. 

The project was hatched by Stern, who hooked Manilow with the idea making a character-driven romantic comedy with intersecting storylines involving Manilow fans who are all arriving in Las Vegas on a weekend where Manilow will headline Mandalay Bay, the largest venue on the Strip.  His music will be heard through the movie. Manilow will also perform a song or two in the film.

Manilow, who was repped in the deal by WME, will be a collaborator in shaping the project once a writer is hired.

Troy Queen and Mark Grove will also be involved as producers.