Fox, the network best known for singing competition “American Idol” has scooped up the exclusive worldwide premiere rights to Rihanna’s forthcoming concert documentary, “Rihanna 777,” to bow Monday, May 6.
The film is said to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her globetrotting concert tour that hit seven countries in seven days with seven shows to promote her seventh album, “Unapologetic.”
Much like the singer’s relationship with troubled star Chris Brown, Rihanna’s tour made plenty of headlines late last year as a Boeing 777 jet packed with 256 die-hard fans and international journalists flew from Mexico City to Toronto to Stockholm to Paris to Berlin to London and, finally, to New York City. The stunt appeared to pay off: “Unapologetic” debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, with her single, “Diamonds,” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the day after the tour concluded. The film that captured much of it is a Fenty Films production in conjunction with Love Live and Gravité Creative.
Some observers likely will suggest this was a move by Fox brass to get closer to Rihanna, a seven-time Grammy winner, should she decide the small-screen singing competition is her next act. (She has already executive-produced and starred in U.K. fashion reality show “Styled to Rock,” which will make its way to the Style Network later this year.)
To be sure, the Barbados-born singer’s name has been bandied about as shows such as “Idol” find themselves with open space on their judges’ panel. Among the options: “X Factor,” which music star Britney Spears will not return to next season. If the more than $35 million empire that Adam Levine has built on the back of his participation in NBC’s “The Voice” is any indication, such shows can prove a boon to one’s career. [Billboard.biz]