A new documentary exploring the life and career of Whoopi Goldberg is officially in development, with filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir set to direct the project.
The upcoming film will examine the journey of the EGOT-winning entertainer, offering an intimate portrait of Goldberg both on and off stage. The project is being produced by Imagine Documentaries and Message Pictures in collaboration with One Hoe Productions.
According to the filmmakers, the documentary will expand on Goldberg’s autobiography, Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother and Me, using the book as a foundation to tell a broader story about her life and legacy in entertainment.
A closer look at Goldberg’s personal and professional life
The documentary will follow Goldberg in the present day while also revisiting the experiences that shaped her rise to fame. The film will combine present-day footage with reflections on the pivotal moments that defined her career.
Part of the documentary’s focus will center on Goldberg revisiting the groundbreaking stage work that launched her career. The project will capture her as she prepares a new interpretation of her 1984 Broadway one-woman show, The Whoopi Monologues.
The updated version of the production is scheduled to debut at Lincoln Center later this year, marking a return to the work that first introduced many audiences to Goldberg’s distinctive storytelling voice.
Beyond the stage, the documentary will also follow Goldberg’s daily life as she balances several professional and personal commitments.
The film will highlight her long-standing collaboration with producing partner Tom Leonardis, with whom she has worked for more than three decades. Together, they continue to develop new theater productions and creative projects.
The documentary will also show Goldberg spending time with her family, including moments with her newest family member, her great-grandchild.
Filmmakers say the project will also explore another side of Goldberg’s life as she spends time in Italy, where she has built a quieter parallel lifestyle away from the spotlight.
Celebrating a groundbreaking career
Goldberg’s career has spanned decades across film, television, theater and comedy, making her one of the most recognizable figures in the entertainment industry.
More than 30 years ago, she made history at the Academy Awards when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as psychic Oda Mae Brown in the film Ghost. The win marked a significant milestone in Hollywood, as she became the first Black woman to receive an Academy Award in 50 years following Hattie McDaniel’s historic win in 1940.
Her achievements continued to expand in the years that followed. Goldberg eventually joined a small group of entertainers who have achieved EGOT status, meaning she has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.
She earned her first Emmy in 2002 for hosting the television special Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel. She later won another Emmy in 2009 as a co-host of the daytime talk show The View.
Goldberg also received a Tony Award in 2002 as a producer for the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Continuing projects across film and television
The documentary arrives as Goldberg continues to stay active across multiple entertainment platforms.
In addition to her role as a co-host on The View, she and Leonardis are currently working on the development of Sister Act 3 for Disney+. The project will bring the beloved franchise back with Goldberg once again connected to the story.
The pair are also executive producers on an upcoming ABC and Hulu project currently titled Welcome to My Funeral. The show centers on celebrating the life of a living person through a mock funeral concept, with the pilot episode focusing on Goldberg herself.
Behind the documentary
The upcoming documentary will be produced by Sara Bernstein, Tom Leonardis, Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Meredith Kaulfers, Sam Pollard and Justin Wilkes. Executive producers include Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.
With the film, the creative team aims to highlight Goldberg’s enduring influence in entertainment and her continuing presence in the industry decades after her career began.
Source: Variety
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