On being trusted to play the late 'Only You' singer in the project, the 'Fast and Furious' star states that it is the role that he feels he was born to play and that he is 'honored to take this journey.'

• Mar 2, 2019

AceShowbiz - Tyrese Gibson is finally getting to play late soul singer Teddy Pendergrass in a biopic after being attached to the role for years.

The "Fast and Furious" star had been in the frame to play the singer-songwriter in a biopic back in 2010, the year Pendergrass died after a battle with cancer at the age of 59. The project suffered numerous delays due to ongoing disputes between the family over his estate, and now executives at Warner Bros. have acquired his life rights and are pushing forward with a biopic with Tyrese as the star as well as producer alongside "Empire" creator Lee Daniels.

"I am honoured to take this journey... this is the role that I feel I was born to play. Teddy Pendergrass embraced me and before he passed put the responsibility on my shoulders to tell his story," Gibson said in a statement to Deadline. "Being here in this time and in this space and moment with Lee Daniels, Donald De Line, Little Marvin and Warner Bros is an answered prayer. Teddy, I just hope we make you, your wife and family proud... Here we go!!"

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Youngsta‘ on my timeline have no clue what’s going on this is what real R&B soul music and #legacy looks like..... #TeddyPendergrassMovie coming soon.... #WarnerBros @theoriginalbigdaddy @littlemarvin @mrkennygamble @charliemackfirstout #PhillyOriginalSound I’m grateful to God that he has me covered in his blood... This last year has been challenging.... I know now that a set back is a set UP for even more great things to come... Thank you guys for staying loyal and thank you for speaking love on my name while others threw stones...... For some strange reason because I survived it all these WINS means MORE than they’ve ever meant...... This game tried to bury me they didn’t know that I am the SEED of Gods favor..... I’m better, I’m stronger, I’m grateful and look forward to all that God has in store!!!!!.. Never count a chocolate real nigha from the hood out! Watts raised a real one...

A post shared by TYRESE (@tyrese) on Mar 1, 2019 at 2:07pm PST

The "Transformers" star and Grammy-nominated singer shared pictures of news articles on Instagram, photos of him at Pendergrass' funeral and with the musician before he died, as well as a video of him, Lee, producer Donald De Line and screenwriter Little Marvin celebrating as they came out of a pitch with Warner Bros.

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Youngsta‘ on my timeline have no clue what’s going on this is what real R&B soul music and #legacy looks like..... #TeddyPendergrassMovie coming soon.... #WarnerBros @theoriginalbigdaddy @littlemarvin @mrkennygamble @charliemackfirstout #PhillyOriginalSound

A post shared by TYRESE (@tyrese) on Mar 1, 2019 at 1:34pm PST

"This is the moment we walked out of our 'pitch' meeting with (Warner Bros. Executive VP, Production) Kevin McCormick there was a feeling that the Teddy Pendergrass movie was going to happen....... Warner Bros we are honored to take this journey with you!!!!" he wrote.

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This is the moment we walked out of our “pitch” meeting with Kevin McCormick there was a feeling that the Teddy Pendergrass movie was going to happen....... Warner Bros we are honored to take this journey with you!!!! ( see the link in my bio with the DEADLINE announcement) Honored to take this journey this is a role that I feel I was born to play... Teddy Pendergrass embraced me and before died he put the responsibility on my shoulders to tell his story... So of course being here in this time , space and moment to take this journey with another Philadelphia legend and genius director Lee Daniels, Donald Deline, little Marvin and Kevin McCormick at Warner Bros is an answered prayer all in itself... Teddy I hope we make you, your wife and family proud...: Here we go!!! @littlemarvin @theoriginalbigdaddy @charliemackfirstout here we go!!!!!!!! To Hod be ALL the glory!!!

A post shared by TYRESE (@tyrese) on Feb 28, 2019 at 6:38pm PST

Pendergrass shot to fame in the early 1970s as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes before finding success as a solo artist, with hits such as "Close the Door" and "Love T.K.O". In 1982, he suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident and was left paralysed from the chest down. However, he continued to enjoy a successful music career until his retirement in 2007.

His widow Joan, who won control of Pendergrass' estate in 2014, will serve as an executive producer.