Tate Taylor, the writer and director of 2011's Oscar-worthy The Help, is reportedly in negotiations to helm an untitled biopic of soul-singer, James Brown.  The picture is a long-awaited realization for producer Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind) who has always harbored a desire to adapt the late singer's life into a feature film.  Joining Grazer as producer will be another musical icon, Mick Jagger.  The film will be a co-production of Imagine Entertainment and Jagger's Jagged Films and will be based off of the screenplay by Fair Game writers, Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. Producers are now turning to avenues of distribution and for an actor to portray Brown.  Hit the jump for more.

Deadline reported on the negotiations involving Taylor as director of the untitled James Brown biopic.  With the addition of Taylor and Jagger, it looks like the film is moving forward; that's music to Grazer's ears.  Grazer began production on the film when Brown was still actively involved before passing away in 2006.  The story will follow Brown from a young age surrounded by poverty and violence through his rise to become the Godfather of Soul.  As the originator of funk and a highly influential musician over his sixty-year career, Brown was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Jagger commented on the project as follows:

“It’s a great honor to be involved with a project as rich as the story of the legendary James Brown. He was a mesmerizing performer with a fascinating life.”

So the question remains: who should play Brown? Get up offa that thing and leave your suggestions in the comments below.