James Ponsoldt will write and direct A24’s history of MTV movie, I Want My MTV
A24 Films announced today that it has optioned the rights to Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks’ renowned book I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution. The company will re-team with James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now, The End of the Tour), who will write, produce, and direct the history of MTV movie adaptation, which will be their third project together. A24 will produce alongside frequent collaborator Eva Maria Daniels of VisionChaos Productions.
The MTV movie chronicles the founding and first 10 years of the network, a golden era in both music and television where MTV became the emblem of a new generation. The network was a radical idea that no one thought would succeed; but what started as a channel showcasing videos from obscure British bands soon transformed into a cultural sensation that tapped directly into the imagination and spirit of contemporary teenagers. The same passionate, reckless young group that built the company ushered it into a global phenomenon that deeply influenced everything from movies, music, and television to fashion, sports, and politics.
The MTV movie aims to be a fun, immersive look at the network’s rise, and will weave the book’s testimonials into a thrilling and celebratory account of this one-of-a-kind cultural moment.
“We’re so thrilled to be collaborating again with James Ponsoldt to bring this terrific book to the screen,” said A24 in a statement. “With James on board, we know he’ll bring out all the passion, ingenuity, humor, and humanity that led to MTV becoming perhaps the most powerful influence on pop culture of all time.”
“As a child of the 1980’s, MTV had a massive impact on me,” says Ponsoldt himself, “and I’m so excited to again be working with my friends at A24 in exploring the storied early years of the groundbreaking channel.”
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