MRC NON-FICTION ANNOUNCES NEW DOCUMENTARY CHRONICLING THE METEORIC RISE AND FALL OF INFAMOUS POP DUO MILLI VANILLI

Los Angeles, CA - (May 13, 2021) - MRC Non-Fiction today announced its new project Girl You Know It’s True, a new documentary based on the whirlwind career of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, better known as the lip-syncing frontmen of Milli Vanilli. Luke Korem, who directed and produced the SXSW award-winning documentary Dealt (2017), will direct and produce under his banner Keep On Running Pictures. Joining as producers are Bradley Jackson and Fulwell 73. Executive producing the project is noted author and music critic Hanif Abdurraqib and Fulwell 73’s Richard Thompson. 

In 1987, German producer Frank Farian brought together two handsome and hopeful immigrants to create what would become pop duo Milli Vanilli. The partnership, mainly based on Morvan and Pilatus’ youthful good-looks and hip dance moves, produced one of the biggest hits of the decade - “Girl You Know It’s True.” Winning a GRAMMY® for Best New Artist and selling over 10 million records, Milli Vanilli became a worldwide sensation. The ensuing revelation that the two had lip-synched their multi-platinum 1989 album caused a scandal that led to them being stripped of their awards, their financial independence, their dignity as artists, and eventually the tragic death of Pilatus.  

The film will feature never-before-seen footage, interviews with the actual singers who were kept quiet, and exclusive access to surviving member Morvan to breathe new life into a cautionary tale that is more relevant now than ever in today’s fame obsessed culture. 

“For 30 years, Fab and Rob have been unfairly maligned while the industry machinations that exploited them continued to flourish,” said Amit Dey, Head of MRC Non-Fiction. “Luke and Bradley’s perspective comes from a place of empathy and understanding for characters who were caught in a game where nobody explained the rules. We’re excited to go on that journey with Fab and the whole team.” 

“Milli Vanilli has made an indelible mark on music and pop culture history, yet the truth of what happened is more bizarre than anyone knows," adds director Luke Korem. “There are so many layers, characters and twists that have never before been revealed. I’m elated to partner with MRC and share the truth behind what has been dubbed the greatest con in music history.” 

MRC, which has a minority investment in Fulwell 73, will produce Girl You Know It’s True as the first of four projects under a new partnership between Fulwell 73’s Music & Sports and MRC’s Non-Fiction divisions to develop a slate of high-profile music documentaries featuring multi-genre legacy and current artists. 

MRC Non-Fiction’s first feature length documentary The Sparks Brothers, Edgar Wright’s musical odyssey about the singular career of brothers Ron & Russell Mael, had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and received glowing reviews. The division also recently announced a feature doc about groundbreaking artist Sly Stone, directed by four-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, which is currently in production. 

Fulwell 73 has a track record for creating high impact music programming with some of the most famous names in entertainment, including the huge box office hit One Direction 3D: This Is Us and Netflix’s Shawn Mendes: In Wonder. Fulwell 73 also produced the BAFTA-winning BBC documentary “Bros: After The Screaming Stops” and has shot music videos for artists including Harry Styles, Little Mix, One Direction and Zara Larsson. 

About MRC Non-Fiction 

MRC Non-Fiction works with a diverse group of artists to develop, finance and produce feature documentaries and docuseries for global audiences who seek enduring and definitive storytelling. The slate includes: The Sparks Brothers, the critically acclaimed debut documentary from filmmaker Edgar Wright (Baby Driver), chronicling the 50-year career of influential American duo Sparks, which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival; an Untitled Sly Stone project that follows the story of groundbreaking artist Sly Stone, to be directed by four-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and executive produced by Oscar® and Emmy® Award-winner Common; and The Last Rider, which tells the story of legendary cyclist Greg LeMond, from acclaimed director Alex Holmes. For more information, please visit www.mrcentertainment.com. 

About Fulwell 73 

Fulwell 73, set up in 2005 by lifelong friends Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner, strives to make top-quality television and film productions. In January 2017 James Corden joined as a fifth full partner. The company first came to the public’s attention in 2007 with the release of its debut feature In the Hands of the Gods (Lionsgate). Since then, Fulwell 73’s theatrical film releases include The Class of 92 (Universal Pictures); the huge box office hit One Direction 3D: This is Us (Sony/Columbia) and I Am Bolt (Universal). Fulwell 73 is currently in production on its first studio feature film Cinderella for Sony Pictures, based on an original idea from James Corden, written and directed by Kay Cannon, starring Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter and Pierce Brosnan. Recent television productions include “Sunderland ‘Til I Die” (Netflix), “Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer” (BBC), “Jack Whitehall’s Sporting Nation” (BBC), hit documentary “Bros: After the Screaming Stops” (BBC), “Carpool Karaoke: The Series” (Apple TV), “Auschwitz Untold: In Colour” (Channel 4) and the hit “Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special” (BBC One). It is also the producer of multi-Emmy and Critics Choice award winning, “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” with CBS Television Studios. For more information, please visit www.fulwell73.com.