It’s been more than 40 years since luminary civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot to death outside of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee. DreamWorks has recently acquired King’s life rights from his estate and is planning to make him the center of a forthcoming biopic. Steven Spielberg is attached to produce, according to Variety.

The life rights were necessary because all of King’s speeches, books and other writings were copyrighted in his lifetime, and this project is the first to ever be authorized by his estate.

“We are all honored that the King estate is giving us the opportunity to tell the story of these defining, historic events,” Spielberg said. “It is our hope that the creative power of film and the impact of Dr. King’s life can combine to present a story of undeniable power that we can all be proud of.”

Dexter King, Martin’s son, and chairman and CEO of the King estate, said, “The King estate is committed to working very closely with DreamWorks, [producers] Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones to create the first major motion picture on the life of my father. We hope that this will be the definitive film on his life and legacy.”