Big Bopper bio-pic planned

HOUSTON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. film company Potion Pictures says it has started pre-production on its Big Bopper bio-pic, "The Day the Music Died."

The "Chantilly Lace" singer, also known as J.P. "Jape" Richardson, Jr., died in the infamous 1959 plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, while the trio was on its Winter Dance Party Tour.

Potion Pictures is collaborating with J.P. Richardson, the Big Bopper's son, who was born after his famous father's death.

"Although Dad wrote three No. 1 songs and is acknowledged as the originator of the music video, his story has never been told because my mother refused to speak about him for years, blaming the music industry for his death," Richardson said in a statement.

Jape's grandson, Thomas Richardson, is attached to play J.P. as a boy.

"The Beautiful Wind" filmmaker Sohrab Mirmontazeri has signed on to direct the film from a script penned by J.S. Duff, who used the Bopper's music and the "second-hand" memories of J.P. as inspiration.

Filming is slated to begin in December. The film is expected to be released in connection with the 50th anniversary of the crash.