Harsh Vardhan
After ‘Big George Foreman,’ George Tillman Jr. will explore another remarkable biographical saga in his next feature! The Cinemaholic can reveal that the filmmaker will direct ‘The Prince of New York’ for Paramount Pictures. The project’s filming will start in Ottawa, Ontario, on October 7. Steve Conrad is behind the screenplay, with Tillman Jr., Trevor Noah, and Bob Teitel on board as producers.
The plot revolves around the Adewumis, a Nigerian family who flee their homeland to escape the horrors of terrorism. After seeking refuge in America, they are granted asylum, and despite the numerous challenges they face, they manage to carve out a new life for themselves in New York City. In reality, their 8-year-old son, Tani, achieved a remarkable feat by winning the 2019 New York State chess championship while residing in a shelter, even though he had only started learning the game two years earlier.
Tanitoluwa Emmanuel “Tani” Adewumi, born on September 3, 2010, is a Nigerian-American chess talent with the prestigious title of FIDE Master (FM). Known for his exceptional skills at a young age, he is the son of Kayode James Adewumi and Oluwatoyin Kuburat Adewumi. The family, who are devout Christians, were forced to flee their home country due to threats of violence from the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.
Tillman Jr.’s ‘Big George Foreman’ depicts boxing legend George Foreman’s rise from poverty to become an Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion. The filmmaker’s biopics include ‘Notorious,’ based on the life of influential hip-hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., and ‘Men of Honor,’ starring Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. His credits also encompass episodes of the drama series ‘This Is Us’ and the crime drama ‘Power.’
Conrad is the creator of shows such as AMC+’s ‘Ultra City Smiths,’ Epix’s ‘Perpetual Grace, LTD,’ and Prime Video’s ‘Patriot.’ He has a notable track record of writing films with inspiring narratives that explore overcoming adversities. One of his popular works, ‘Wonder,’ is adapted from R. J. Palacio’s New York Times bestselling novel and portrays the uplifting journey of August Pullman, a young boy with facial differences who bravely navigates his first experience in a mainstream elementary school. Additionally, Conrad penned the screenplay for ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ a film that chronicles Chris Gardner’s challenging life journey through homelessness, divorce, and raising his son as a single parent.
Ottawa previously hosted the production of several touching projects, including ‘On the Count of Three’ and ‘My Dreams of You.’
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