‘The Perfect Neighbor’ Director Geeta Gandbhir’s Next Film Is a Bio-Doc on Whoopi Goldberg

If “The Perfect Neighbor” director Geeta Gandbhir wins the Oscar this coming Sunday for her documentary film, or for the documentary short “The Devil Is Busy,” she’ll still be a Grammy and a Tony short of the subject of her next documentary film: Whoopi Goldberg.

Gandbhir is set to direct a biographical documentary on the life of EGOT winner Goldberg, which will be told in Goldberg’s own words and expand upon Goldberg’s autobiography “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother and Me.” Gandbhir’s Message Pictures is teaming with Imagine Documentaries, in association with One Hoe Productions, on the currently untitled film.

Whoopi Goldberg, formerly Caryn Elaine Johnson, began her life as a dyslexic child growing up in New York City public housing before becoming an acclaimed comedian and one-woman performer and eventually the star of “The Color Purple,” an activist, and the co-host of “The View.” The film specifically will follow Goldberg as she re-imagines her debut 1984 Broadway one-woman show “The Whoopi Monologues,” as well as how she develops new theater projects, spends time with her great grandchild, and leads a quiet life living in Italy.

“Whoopi Goldberg is a brilliant and groundbreaking storyteller who has shaped the landscape of entertainment for years,” Gandbhir said in a statement. “I, along with my partners Sam Pollard and Alisa Payne at Message Pictures, Whoopi’s long-time producing partner Tom Leonardis, President of Whoop, Inc, and Imagine Documentaries are honored to bring her story to life in this documentary.”

Imagine has made a number of biographical docs, including “Music by John Williams,” “Jim Henson Idea Man,” “Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything,” “Marty: Life Is Short,” and more.

“Imagine is thrilled to reunite with my friend and longtime collaborator the exceptional Geeta Gandbhir, Tom Leonardis and Message Pictures on this extraordinary opportunity to celebrate the singular icon that is Whoopi Goldberg,” said Sara Bernstein, President of Imagine Documentaries. “The world needs more Whoopi!”

Producers on the film are Sara Bernstein, Tom Leonardis, Geeta Gandbihir, Alisa Payne, Meredith Kaulfers, Sam Pollard, and Justin Wilkes. Executive producers are Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.

Goldberg’s revived “The Whoopi Monologues” will open at Lincoln Center Theatre this summer and on Broadway. Goldberg is also developing “Sister Act 3” for Disney+ and is an executive producer on an ABC and Hulu pilot series called “Welcome to My Funeral.”