There’s a New Nina Simone Film Coming to Netflix

By Jamilah King Dec 08, 2014

Academy Award nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus is at the helm of a new look at Nina Simone called, "What Happened, Miss Simone?" RadicalMedia, the company that’s producing the film, is teaming up with Netflix to make the film available for streaming in 2015, according to Shadow and Act.

"I’m thrilled that Netflix has embraced the incredible story of Nina Simone and partnered with RadicalMedia on this film," said director Garbus. "For each of her millions of fans, Nina feels like a treasured secret. With ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?,’ I’m excited to help bring her passion, her music and her story to the world."

The film appears to be a documentary that, in addition to looking at Simone’s singing career and social activism, will also feature never-before-heard recordings. It will also include interviews with Simone’s close friends and musical collaborators, in addition to her daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, who’s gone public about her sometimes-tumultuous relationship with her late mother, who died in 2003.

Remembering Nina Simone on film has been a continuously difficult endeavor. Zoe Saldana, who’s noticeably lighter skinned than Simone, was cast to play a lead in a narrative film whose director later sued the studio that was due to release it. Simone’s daughter later criticized the film for relying on a love story that never happened.

Lisa Simone Kelly is listed as an executive producer of this latest project, so it’s unlikely to have those same problems.