Spike Lee Fired From James Brown Biopic

Movie producer Brian Grazer, who hired Spike Lee to write and direct his James Brown biopic in 2006, recently fired Lee and hired the director of ‘The Help,’ Tate Taylor, to take Lee’s place, Rolling Out reports.

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The decision has caused outrage in black movie-making circles. Not only do they see Taylor as inexperienced with only two feature films under his belt, some critics see ‘The Help’ as a “whitewashed depiction of the Civil Rights movement,

” and now feel the story of  the “Godfather of Soul” will be whitewashed as well.

Mick Jagger and Brian Grazer are co-producing the film about James Brown’s life and Eddie Murphy is rumored to be playing James Brown.

Read more at Rolling Out.