Pauly Shore Takes on the Sweatin' Journey as Richard Simmons in New Biopic

Get ready to groove to the beat as Pauly Shore, the renowned actor and comedian, steps into the vibrant shoes of fitness legend Richard Simmons in an upcoming biopic currently in the works at Warner Bros. subsidiary, The Wolper Organization.

 

This exciting project, sparked by a short film called "The Court Jester" directed and written by Jake Lewis, is set to premiere at Sundance on Jan. 19. Shore takes the lead as Simmons, joined by a stellar cast featuring Tamra Brown as Ellen DeGeneres and Jesse Heiman as David, a television producer on a transformative weight-loss journey inspired by Simmons. Following its Sundance debut, "The Court Jester" will be instantly available worldwide on YouTube.

 

Expressing his enthusiasm for the venture, Shore shared, “I’m really excited about sharing Richard Simmons’s life with the world. We all need this biopic now more than ever. Simmons represented mental health, getting people in shape, and being his authentic, silly self! Whenever he was on TV, you could never take your eyes off of him, and he brought such joy to his appearances that represented nothing but a good time.”

 

Simmons, a colossal figure in fitness and exercise, graced talk shows such as “Late Night With David Letterman,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and “The Howard Stern Show.” His flamboyant personality and the success of his "Sweatin’ to the Oldies" aerobics videos propelled him to stardom. In his later years, Simmons transitioned to political activism, advocating for noncompetitive physical education in public schools.

 

Mark Wolper, head of The Wolper Organization, commented on the upcoming biopic, stating, “There is an amazing, dramatic, and uplifting story to tell about Richard Simmons. My company has been making historical dramas and biopics for over 50 years now … we know what works. We have been dancing around the idea for years, but it never coalesced until several months ago when I saw the press about Pauly Shore being touted by social media as the ONLY person that could play Richard."

 

Wolper continued, "I saw the picture of them and realized these two are very similar, they both lived or died by how the world perceived them, they both fought to give their fans what they wanted, and they both deserve an amazing comeback story! My company has locked Pauly down to play Richard Simmons, and we are in serious discussions with a major writer to develop this as a dramatic and heartfelt feature in the tone of ‘Little Miss Sunshine.’”

 

With over 500 films and television projects under its belt, The Wolper Organization, known for classics like “Roots,” “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” and “L.A. Confidential,” brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having won two Oscars, 50 Emmys, and seven Golden Globes, the studio is poised to craft a compelling narrative that does justice to Simmons' extraordinary life.

 

In the spirit of Simmons' infectious energy, this biopic promises to be a celebration of resilience, authenticity, and the enduring spirit of those who inspire us to dance to our own rhythm. Get ready for a cinematic journey that will leave you inspired and uplifted as Pauly Shore brings Richard Simmons' story to life on the big screen.