Earlier this month, the internet learned that Ron Howard will be directing an official Luciano Pavarotti documentary. Howard is no stranger to biopics and documentaries; the famed actor and filmmaker has several music docs under his belt with The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, Jay-Z: Made in America, and he scored some additional points as the executive producer of Katy Perry: Part of Me.
Deadline, which first reported the news, spoke extensively with Howard. The director revealed that he found the people and stories behind the music more fascinating than the music itself. Howard Pavarotti's life, after all “was replete with the highs and lows of great drama” and is a perfect subject. “Like any compelling character, he was also a man of considerable contradictions.”
Another plus? Pavarotti's life was heavily documented in sound, film and photograph. That wealth of information means that the celebrated tenor can “tell his own story.” Despite all of that archived material, Howard told Deadline that there is a shortage of stories— there aren’t a lot of Pavarotti films and other creative undertakings relative to other musical giants.
Howard will be co-producing with longtime collaborator Brian Grazer, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Nigel Sinclair and Michael Rosenberg.
Now, watch Pavarotti perform the familiar favorite “La Donna è Mobile” from Verdi's Rigoletto.