Richard Simmons is taking a break from his “quiet life” to share a rare message on social media.
On Wednesday, the 75-year-old posted a message on Facebook talking about the news that a biopic about his life is coming out.
“Hi everyone! You may have heard that they might be making a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I never gave my permission for this movie,” he wrote. “So don’t believe everything you read.”
“I don’t have a manager anymore, and I don’t have a publicist either. I’m just trying to live a quiet life and be calm,” he continued. “Thank you for all your love and support.”
Pauly Shore to play Richard Simmons in new film: ‘We all need this biopic now more than ever’
Simmons’ message comes after it was announced that Pauly Shore, who said in September that he could “definitely turn” into Simmons in response to a viral meme, will play the media icon in a feature film from the Warner Bros. subsidiary. The Wolper Organization, trans The Hollywood Reporter and other outlets.
At the time, Shore told PEOPLE that he thinks so many people are responding to the idea of a Simmons biopic because of how he touched their lives.
“He helped so many people,” Shore said. “If you read people talking about him, they’d always say, ‘I was 400 pounds and Richard Simmons saved my life!’ It was all about positivity and helping people. And there’s so much angst and division in the world, so I think a dose of that positivity is what people need. A Richard Simmons movie could unite America!”
Pauly Shore, Richard Simmons.
Monica Schipper/Getty; Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic
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The upcoming feature film is being developed as a “dramatic and honest film in tone Little Miss Sunshine”, said Mark Wolper of the Wolper Organization, trans Diversity. The production company, Wolper said, “had been dancing around the idea for years, but never got around to it until a few months ago when I saw the media on social media praising Pauly Shore as the ONLY person who could play Richard.”
Wolper’s statement continued: “I saw their picture and realized they were very similar, both lived or died by how the world perceived them, both fought to give their fans what they wanted and both deserve an amazing comeback story ! ”
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The Wolper Organization commented on Simmons’ lack of involvement with the project in a statement to Variety: “While we would love to have [Simmons] involved, we respect his desire for privacy and plan to produce a film that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story.” The production company added, “We know he is deeply withdrawn and we would never want to disturb that, however he is an incredible person who has changed the lives of millions of people and the impact he has had on the world should be recognized.”
The news coincides with Shore’s short film Court madman in which he plays Simmons. A brief premiere this week in Park City, Utah during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
It’s been almost 10 years since Simmons was last seen in public.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education