Hollywood director Spike Lee has reiterated his desire to make a biopic about the late soul legend James Brown.

Lee, who acquired the rights to the movie shortly after Brown's death on Christmas day in 2006, said he still wanted actor Wesley Snipes to play Brown.

“We’re doing it together, it’s going to happen,” Lee told MTV during a recent appearance at the Sundance Film Festival.

Snipes signed up to the role in 2007 shortly before he was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of wilful failure to file federal income tax returns.

The actor was sentenced in April 2008 to three years in prison but has been allowed to remain free while his appeal is considered.

Lee said his biopic would see Brown's voice dubbed over Snipes' lip-synching in order to capture the soul singer's real identity.

“I want to hear James Brown’s voice. That’s just my personal taste,” the said. “I know Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line, he did some of the singing. I’m a purist.”

(by Jason Gregory)