Poitier, who died Thursday at age 94 in Beverly Hills, California, was the first Black man to win an Academy Award for best actor for 1963′s “Lilies of the Field” and also starred in “The Defiant Ones,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “To Sir, With Love” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”
Apple and Winfrey have been in production on the film for more than a year, Variety reported. Poitier’s family is also participating in the project, the website reported.
Sidney Poitier Documentary in Development at Apple, Oprah Winfrey Attached as Executive Producer https://t.co/OtOZ8e67hk
Reginald Hudlin will direct the documentary, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hudlin directed “The Black Godfather,” the 2019 documentary about music executive Clarence Avant; and “Marshall,” the 2017 biopic about the late Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, which starred Chadwick Boseman.
“To us, Sidney Poitier was not only a brilliant actor, activist and a man of incredible grace and moral fortitude, he was also a devoted and loving husband, a supportive and adoring father and a man who always put family first,” Poitier’s family said in a statement. “Although he is no longer here with us in this realm, his beautiful soul will continue to guide and inspire us. He will live on in us, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren -- in every belly laugh, every curious inquiry, every act of compassion and kindness. His legacy will live on in the world, continuing to inspire not only with his incredible body of work, but even more so with his humanity.”
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Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years Sidney Poitier admires the Oscar he has just received in Santa Monica, California, on April 13, 1964. He won Best Performance by an Actor for his role in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field. (Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images) (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years Actors Richard Widmark (1914 – 2008) and Sidney Poitier in a scene of American noir film 'No Way Out', 1950. Original caption reads: 'Ray Biddle (Richard Widmark) keeps up such a volley of insults at the Negro Dr. Brooks (Sidney Poitier) that he has to be handcuffed to his bed before Brooks can go on with his try to save Johnny Biddle (Dick Paxton)'s life. Scene from the 1950 20th Century Fox production of "No Way Out."' Undated movie still. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years From left to right, actors Judy Geeson, Adrienne Posta, Sidney Poitier and Lulu on the set of the drama film 'To Sir, With Love', in which they all star, UK, 15th June 1966. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years Harry Belafonte (left) and Sidney Poitier attend NAACP Legal Defense Fund Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, November 27, 1993. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years Sidney Poitier as police detective Virgil Tibbs and Lee Grant as Leslie Colbert in the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night. (Photo by �� John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) (John Springer Collection/Corbis via Getty Images)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: (L-R) Singer Harry Belafonte, and actors Laurence Fishburne and Sidney Poitier attend the 43rd NAACP Image Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on February 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards) (Mark Davis)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years NEW YORK, NY - CIRCA 1989: Sidney Poitier, Merv Griffin and Eva Gabor circa 1989 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images) (Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 08: (L-R) Writer George Stevens Jr., Joanna Shimkus, actor Sidney Poitier, and _____ backstage during American Film Institute's 45th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to Diane Keaton at Dolby Theatre on June 8, 2017 in Hollywood, California. 26658_006 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Turner) (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Turner)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years Gene Wilder; Sidney Poitier; Richard Pryor; listening to Harry Belafonte.; circa 1970; New York. (Photo by Art Zelin/Getty Images) (Art Zelin/Getty Images)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years Sidney Poitier, Alan Ladd JR., Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage) (Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 24: (L-R) Actors Sidney Poitier, Sally Field and Harrison Ford attend Target Presents AFI's Night at the Movies at ArcLight Cinemas on April 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for AFI) (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for AFI)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 15: Actress Helen Mirren, actors Morgan Freeman, and Sidney Poitier pose in the press room with the Cecil B. DeMille Golden Globe award for career achievement at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 15, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 08: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Writer George Stevens Jr. (L) and actor Sidney Poitier react onstage during American Film Institute's 45th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to Diane Keaton at Dolby Theatre on June 8, 2017 in Hollywood, California. 26658_001 (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Turner) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Turner)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 01: Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier attend the 44th NAACP Image Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on February 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards) (Mark Davis)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 19: Actor Sidney Poitier attends the Brigitte and Bobby Sherman Children's Foundation's 6th Annual Christmas Gala and Fundraiser at Montage Beverly Hills on December 19, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for The Brigitte and Bobby Sherman Children's Foundation) (Mark Davis)
Photos: Sidney Poitier through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Actors Angelina Jolie (L) and Sidney Poitier speak onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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