Colman Domingo is set to depict the life of legendary singer Nat King Cole, starring in the musical biopic Unforgettable. International sales have been taken over by Lionsgate as the film is likely to make noise at the upcoming European Film Market, reportedly with a PG-13 rating attached to attract a wide audience.
Nat King Cole was not only a musician, but also acted as a revolutionary. The film will spotlight his battles against racial injustice, the dark side of Hollywood, and his personal struggles in ensuring his legacy will have a lasting impact for the future of Black men and women. His real name was Nathaniel Adams Cole and he lived from 1919-1965. His biggest hit is where the name of this film comes from, and Cole also released The Magic of Christmas, an album that sold the most records of any Christmas album in the 1960s. Racism and accusations of performing in front of all white audiences throughout the beginning of his career led Cole to boycott segregated venues and become a lifetime member of the NAACP. He also demonstrated in the March on Washington in 1963 and his series The Nat King Cole Show on NBC was the first black led tv show on national broadcasting.
Filming is expected to begin later this year with Domingo making his directorial debut. He also penned the script alongside Vernon Scott. It is currently thought that Domingo will also be producing the film alongside Cassian Elwes, Charles D. King, William Rosenfeld, Poppy Hanks, Jimmy Edwards, Veronica Radaelli, and Fred Berger. Jimmy Edwards is connected to the project through being the president of Iconic Artists Group, who Deadline reports acquired rights to the likeness of Nat King Cole through his estate in 2022.
Reports of the biopic began in 2022 and Domingo’s connection to the singer extends even further as he co-wrote the production of Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole with Patricia McGregor, playing in NYC in 2025. Stay tuned to MXDWN for any future updates on the biopic.
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