- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby had tough competition as it opened the Cannes Film Festival Wednesday night: Justin Timberlake.
In an unusual show of support for a film market project, Timberlake co-hosted a bash Wednesday night at the Carlton Beach for foreign buyers to plug Spinning Gold, a biopic of legendary record executive Neil Bogart, who founded Casablanca Records and was closely aligned with the rise of disco.
PHOTOS: Note Perfect: The 15 Best Portrayals of Musicians in Movies
Timberlake, attending the party with his wife Jessica Biel, will star as Bogart and is producing the film with Foresight CEO Mark Damon, Laurence Mark, Boardwalk Entertainment’s Timothy Scott Bogart — Bogart’s son — and Gary A. Randall.
The disco-themed evening even included Timberlake taking the stage with Timothy Bogart, who wrote the script for Spinning Gold, and Damon, who knew Neil Bogart. Evan Bogart, also son of the late Neil Bogart, is the music supervisor on the film.
EXCLUSIVE: Cannes: Sony Worldwide Picks Up Justin Timberlake’s ‘Spinning Gold’
Timberlake teased a few of the disco songs that Bogart is best remembered for by singing a line or two, including Donna Summer‘s “Love to Love You Baby,” the 1975 tune that propelled Summer to fame and became an international disco hit. In the song — known for its erotic lyrics — Summer simulated being caught in the throes of ecstasy. Bogart convinced Summer to record a second version as long as 20 minutes.
Timberlake quipped that the long version allowed women enough time to satisfy themselves because “women can’t have an orgasm in three minutes.”
The actor-performer also sang a line from Summer’s “Last Dance” and Bill Withers‘ “Ain’t No Sunshine.” In between, Timberlake referenced Neil Bogart’s partying ways.
“But we’re in Cannes, so I don’t need to tell you about partying,” Timberlake said.
Related Stories
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day