Aykroyd And Scott Pegged For "Get On Up"

Dan Aykroyd and Jill Scott have joined Tate Taylor's James Brown biopic "Get On Up" says THR.

The story charts a young boy’s rise from extreme poverty and violence to become The Godfather Of Soul (Chadwick Boseman), one of the most influential black artists in history whose career spanned six decades.

Aykroyd will play Ben Bart, the president of the Universal Attractions Agency which repped Brown for over forty years. Scott will play Brown's wife.

Viola Davis will play Brown's Mom who as a girl of just 16 she gave birth to the singing legend. She ultimately abandoned him to live with relatives. Octavia Spencer will play the child’s aunt, Anne Tunney, who was a formative figure in his upbringing. "True Blood" co-star Nelsan Ellis will play Bobby Byrd, Brown's longtime friend and musical collaborator.

Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth ("Fair Game") wrote the script.

Mick Jagger, Brian Grazer, Victoria Pearman and Erica Huggins will produce.

Production starts later this month in Mississippi.