Jon M. Chu signs on to direct film about Journey singer Arnel Pineda

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

Filipino singer Arnel Pineda, center, with the group Journey.

JOURNEY's Arnel Pineda's incredible life story -- from being homeless in Manila's, getting discovered on Youtube to becoming lead singer for one of the world's top musical groups -- has all the ingredients of a good movie. That's what Warner Bros. and Jon M. Chu think, too.

Chu, the director of Crazy Rich Asians, has agreed to direct a movie of the Filipino singer's remarkable rags-to-riches story,

"The success of Crazy Rich Asians has blown my mind and set me on a path to champion more unique inspirational stories that represent new perspectives from all around the world,” Chu said in a statement to Deadline. 

“This story in particular has been on my mind since I first read about it years ago. A true fairy tale and triumph of the human spirit. An unlikely hero, an undeniable talent, the power of music and a worldwide stage (literally) has all the ingredients I love about movies.”

As the well-known story goes, Neal Schon, co-founder of Journey, who was looking for a singer to replace original singer Steve Perry, "discovered" Pineda on Youtube. Pineda was able to sound exactly like Perry, down to the soaring vocals Perry was known for in the group's hits, "Don't Stop Believing," "Faithfully" and "Lights." Schon flew to Manila to meet Pineda and brought the Filipino singer to San Francisco where the band was based. Pineda's addition gave the band new life to their current popularity.

Warner Bros, which also was behind Crazy Rich Asians, is negotiating to license the original Journey songs. The Hollywood studio has acquired the rights to the 2012 film Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey, which documented Pineda’s rise.

The studio is searching for a screenplay writer for the proposed film. It will be a few years before the movie hits the theaters since Chu is already committed for a number of films, including Lin Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical In the Heights and China Rich Girlfriend, the sequel to Crazy Rich Asians.

"I have been a fan of Journey’s music since I can remember," said Chu, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area listening to Journey songs. "I am excited to be bringing the audience along on this incredible story with my partners at Warner Bros who have been a leading champion of diverse voices in front and behind the camera.”

CORRECTION: The spelling of "Jon M. Chu" has been corrected.

________________________________________________________________________________

Journey inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but Arnel Pineda snubbed

INSTAGRAM/@YULSESSION

Arnel Pineda finally met his idol and the man he replaced, Steve Perry, right.

AS JOURNEY, the rock group, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Friday (April 7) in Brooklyn, NY, its lead singer, Filipino Arnel Pineda, watched from back stage.
The 32nd Annual Rock & RollHall of Fame was honoring the long-lasting rock group when it was in its glory years in the 1980s, when Steve Perry was its lead singer.

The apparent snub didn't bother Pineda, who has been the group's lead singer for 10 years. In fact, he was happy to finally meet Perry, the man he replaced and who he had long admired.

"One of the sweetest hug you can ever get from one of my heroes and silent mentors," said Pineda as he shared on Instagram a photo of him embracing the music legend. "It means the world to me. Waited 35 years for this moment. Thank you Almighty God!"

Pineda also expressed his gratitude to Perry, who had nothing but warm words for him for keeping Journey's music alive. 

In his acceptance speech, Perry said: "I must give a complete shoutout to someone who sings his heart out every night, and it's Arnel Pineda. Where are you, Arnel? Arnel, I love you." 

When Journey was first informed of their Hall of Fame induction, the group's keyboardist and guitarist Jonathan Cain told Billboard that he does not think it is fair that Pineda was snubbed.

"There is no Journey without Arnel right now. He certainly has earned his stripes. He's been with us longer than any lead singer has consecutively stayed in the band. He's given us 10 years straight, not running off or doing this, doing that, just being The Guy. So that's worth something," he said.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a long history of member induction controversies, and Pineda wasn’t the only Journey member snubbed by the organization. Original drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who played on Journey’s first four albums, was also left off of the nomination list.

Perry left the group in 1987, reportedly for health reasons. He sang again with the group in 1991 in a one-time event.

Pineda, who sounds remarkably like Perry, including the high, soaring notes. He was "discovered" doing covers of Journey in YouTuibe videos. Members of the San Francisco-based group traveled to Manila to hear the singer live. Pineda was invited to join Journey in 2007.

It was an emotional reunion when Perry joined the group to accept the honor, but when it came time for Journey to perform after their entry into the Hall of Fame, Pineda took the stage instead of Perry.

###