Showtime, Sky team for Belushi biopic

US cablenet Showtime and UK pay channel Sky Atlantic are teaming up on a documentary about the life of US comedy star John Belushi (Animal House, The Blues Brothers), who died in 1982.

John Belushi, who died in 1982

Directed by RJ Cutler (The September Issue, The World According to Dick Cheney) and produced by John Battsek (Searching For Sugar Man, The Tillman Story), the documentary is set to begin production in the autumn, with long-time Belushi collaborator Sean Daniel the executive producer, along with Bill Couturie.

Belushi’s widow Judith Belushi Pisano has agreed to cooperate with the making of the film, which will be produced through documentary feature specialist Passion Pictures (One Day In September, Searching For Sugar Man).

The move follows Showtime, Cutler and Battsek working together on Peabody-winning documentary Listen To Me Marlon, a biopic about movie star Marlon Brando.

“We plan to assemble a deep and three-dimensional look into the life of a man of great complexity and talent who went on to become an American comedic icon,” said Battsek. “Having Judy cooperation for the first time on a feature documentary of his life is very special and means we know we will be making a truly authentic film.”