Oprah bio heading for TV movie or miniseries

Kitty Kelly’s unauthorized biography of Oprah will be turned into a TV movie biopic or miniseries to air in September, 2011, coinciding with Oprah’s departure from her daytime talk show of 25 years.

TV movie producer Larry A. Thompson, who called the story “certainly a challenge,” acquired the rights to “Oprah: A Biography,” according to Deadline Hollywood’s Nikke Finke.

“I happen to be from Mississippi where she is from, and I know her career very well,” Thompson told Finke. “I think it’s a fabulous story ? but Kitty Kelley’s extensively researched book offers us the factual foundation to frame our cinematic portrait of this powerful and beloved icon.”

Asked about possible concerns basing a biopic on a book that has stirred so much controversy, Thompson said, “Oprah Winfrey is a very powerful woman, and that’s also something that will make our movie great.”