Bill Condon has been prepping his biopic of Richard Pryor for a bit now. He was all ready to go and he had his star. Dipping from the ‘Dreamgirls’ cast he had lined up Eddie Murphy to play Pryor. This would be one of those projects that would not only get fans of Pryor excited, but get awards pundits like myself all ready for the predictions. “And the Oscar for Best Actor goes to….Eddie Murphy”
To be honest that is not something I really want to here. Sure the man is a talented comedian and was brilliant in ‘Dreamgirls’ but as a person he just exudes so much arrogance. Walking out of the Oscars when he didn’t win, dumping his baby mama via interview. Tacky behavior (I am still upset with Matt Damon for dumping Mini on Oprah) that does not become a star of his stature.
Anywho, due to disagreements with the studio is seems Murphy is off the project.
My guess, they wanted to get the project made and had no time for demanding ‘stars’.
Right now they are talking to someone who I think would make a MUCH better choice.
Marlon Wayans.
Sure movies like ‘White Chicks’ and the ‘Scary Movie’ franchise will make you stop and wonder, but anyone who saw his wonderful work in ‘Requiem For a Dream’ will know that the man has the acting chops to deal with the darker sides of Pryors life.
Apparently a 13 minute screen test saw Wayans transform into the comedian, at which point the producers socks (Chris Rock and the subjects widow Jennifer Lee Pryor) were blown off.
Here is hoping we get to see Wayans in ‘Richard Pryor: Is it Something I Said?’
Here is hoping he gets the part and doesn’t look back. Leave the ‘Norbits’ and ‘Daddy Day Cares’ to Murphy.
1 comment:
FYI - Matt didn't dump Minnie on Oprah. She acted as though he did to gain sympathy and admitted it afterwards (as did her sister).
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