Acclaimed rapperEminemwill co-produce a documentary all about superfans, also known as ‘Stans,’ for his own Shady Films. According to a report byVariety, Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, whose hugely popular song from 2000,Stan, popularized the term ‘Stan’ for “overzealous or maniacal fans of a celebrity or personality,” will help develop the project with planned distribution from Paramount/MTV.
A synopsis forStanshas also now been released, which you can check out below.
“[Stans] is a revealing, edgy, and disarmingly personal journey into the world of superfandom, told through the lens of one of the world’s most iconic and enduring artists, Eminem, and the fans that worship him.”
Directed by Steven Leckart, who is best known forChallenger: The Final Flight,What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali, and the Hulu seriesLegacy: True Story of the L.A. Lakers, Shady Films will develop thedocumentaryin conjunction with DIGA Studios and Hill District Media.
Eminem’s longtime manager and Shady Films co-founder Paul Rosenberg and8 Mileproducer Stuart Parr released the following statement:
“’Stans’ will be the opportunity for us to to turn the camera around and ask the audience about being fans — and in some cases, fanatics. This is a study of the relationship between fanbase and artist through the lens of one of Eminem’s most fascinating songs and one of the world’s most important entertainers.”
CEO of DIGA Tony DiSanto, meanwhile, revealed thatStanswill explore “the complex relationship between fame and super fandom.”
“Paul Rosenberg and I have known each other since my days on MTV’s ‘TRL,’ a show that was driven by the power of fandom, bringing artists and their fans together. So when he told me about the idea for this film, it felt like we had come full circle. ‘Stans’ will explore the complex relationship between fame and super fandom, told through the lens of one of the world’s most Iconic artists, Eminem, his music, and, especially, his most extreme fans.”
Stan Tells the Story of an Obsessed Eminem Fan
Released back in 2000 as the third single from Eminem’s third album,The Marshall Mathers LP, and featuring vocals from Dido,Stantells the story of Stanley “Stan” Mitchell, who claims to be Eminem’s biggest fan. Through letters that Stan sends to the rapper, Stan gradually becomes more and more irate at not receiving replies, as the song delves into his tortured mind and abusive behavior before ending tragically.
8 Mile Actor Remembers His Belated Co-Stars and Almost Passing on the Film
In a chat with MovieWeb, Mekhi Phifer reflects on the 2002 drama 8 Mile, heaps praise on Eminem, and remembers the co-stars that have since passed.
Stanis now considered to be one of Eminem’s best songs and was nominated for several awards at the time. A portmanteau of the words “stalker” and “fan,”Stanhas even since been added to the Oxford English Dictionary alongside the meaning, “an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity” and cites the origin as “early 21st century.”
As well asStans, Eminem is also currently working alongside fellow rapper 50 Cent tobring8 Mileto the small screen.
