Dueling Xscape biopic movies planned, one authorized, another not

ajc.com

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

This was originally posted Tuesday, May 2, 2017 by Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com on AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

The reunited Atlanta group Xscape was not thrilled when news came out last week that TV One was putting together a biopic movie about them without their approval and clearance.

“We feel the recent announcement of an unauthorized biopic on our lives is disrespectful and disappointing,” the group said in a statement. “We are not, in any way, participating in that project and it will never ‘represent’ our true story.”

So Xscape - which includes "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kandi Burruss, "T.I. & Tiny" star Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott - said it's planning its own movie, which the group is now shopping around to networks.

The early 1990s Atlanta girl group Xscape splintered nearly two decades ago in an acrimonious way. Once hatchets were finally buried, group members on V-103's Big Tigger show in February announced an official reconciliation and are planning their first tour together since the late 1990s.

TV One's "Unsung" series featured the group in 2015, an episode that received the highest ratings of any episode in the show's nine seasons.

This led to the movie idea. According to TV One, "the film is being produced in partnership with legendary music producer and So So Def founder Jermaine Dupri, the label that produced Xscape's three platinum albums."

The group had a succession of big hits in the 1990s including “Just Kickin’ It,” “Understanding” and “Who Can I Run To?”