Gilda Radner’s story is coming to the big screen. Magnolia Pictures nabbed North American rights to “Love, Gilda” and is planning a theatrical release for later this year, Deadline confirms. The doc about the pioneering comedian served as opening-night film at Tribeca Film Festival in April, and has since screened at Hot Docs and Montclair Film Festival.
Directed and produced by Lisa D’Apolito, the documentary features readings from the Emmy and Grammy winner’s personal diaries and features Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Cecily Strong, among others.
Radner was one of seven original cast members on “Saturday Night Live.” Her most beloved characters included Roseanne Roseannadanna, Emily Litella, and Lisa Loopner. She died at the age of 42 from ovarian cancer.
“I think the amazing thing about Gilda and why she’s such an inspiration for so many modern day comedians is [that] Gilda felt equal to men,” D’Apolito has said. “She really felt like she could be up there with John Belushi and all these guys, and if it wasn’t working her way, she’d would find a way to make it work.”
“Love, Gilda” marks D’Apolito’s feature debut.
CNN has North American broadcast rights to the project.