Richard Pryor biopic

[SpideyFan866]

I don't think I've seen anything with Cannon but I just googled him and looks wise he's not that bad. From the two reactions above my post, I guess he's not a great actor.

It's not that he's a bad actor, or even a bad comedian, he's just....... not right for it. At least not IMO.

I'd love to be proven wrong though.

 

[MadVillainy]

It's not that he's a bad actor, or even a bad comedian, he's just....... not right for it. At least not IMO.

I'd love to be proven wrong though.

Agree with whole post especially the bolded. I will complain or disagree with a casting choice but always hope to be proven wrong

 

[MadVillainy]

Just a few tidbits

Explosive Test Makes Mike Epps Fave To Play Richard Pryor In Lee Daniels Pic

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Monday August 11, 2014 @ 12:10pm PDT

EXCLUSIVE: After blowing away everybody with his audition, actor-comic Mike Epps has emerged as the front-runner to star as Richard Pryor in the biopic that Lee Daniels will direct at The Weinstein Company. Daniels has been in TWC headquarters working with and auditioning a group of young actors that has included Epps, Michael B. Jordan, Marlon Wayans, and Nick Cannon, with Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway the names I’ve heard to play Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor. I can only imagine what it must mean to several of these guys to get the role and play the stand-up comedian they grew up revering before they themselves succeeded onstage. It’s especially poignant for Epps and Wayans, because each one was signed to play Pryor in prior incarnations of the movie that fell apart.

Wayans had the job in the last version of the comic legend’s story when it was going to be made at Sony with Bill Condon directing and Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison producing. Epps won the job back in 2005, when the iconic Pryor was alive and involved in putting together the film through Indigo Productions, the banner he had with his wife. Back then, Walter Hill, who helmed Eddie Murphy’s star making turn in 48 HRS, was going to direct and co-write the script. When I revealed that the Pryors had chosen him, Epps was completely humbled by the experience. “I met Richard and felt like I was in Oz the whole time,” Epps said. “It’s hard to describe what he means to me or any stand-up comic. You could say he’s paid the dues for everything we do up there.”
The Pryors had been through previous incarnations of the film, one of which was to star Damon Wayans, the brother of Marlon. They went with Epps because they wanted an actor who hadn’t yet been stamped as a big star. Pryor, who by then was wheelchair bound from multiple sclerosis, died in 2005 and his widow kept getting her heart broken when each version of the movie built momentum and then fell apart.

Things didn’t go much better right after for Epps, who moved on and played sewer worker Ed Norton opposite Cedric the Entertainer’s Ralph Kramden in a rather unwise remake of The Honeymooners. But it sure looks like Daniels and TWC are going to make this movie. Back when Epps was hired the first time, “The material is larger than life, and you need someone to fit into it who’s not extraordinarily famous or else it would be like Al Jolson playing Malcolm X,” Jennifer told me. “Richard and I saw Mike’s stand-up, and there is a dangerous edge, a Richard-esque quality about him.”

An insider cautioned me that no final decision had been reached but that Epps’ work put him in front-runner position and that Wayans is not out. Jordan’s test was strong, but they felt he was a bit young to play Pryor in his later years. Stay tuned.

Still hoping for Epps

 

[Sawyer]

I like Michael B. Jordan alot, but I really can't picture him as Pryor.

Epps, however.

 

[terry78]

They really need to go ahead and do this to get it off the ground.

 

[PyroChamber]

Wasn't Mike Epps suppose to play Pryor in the first place when they first started working on this movie?

 

[Octoberist]

The article clears up the confusion but Epps was the one that the Proyers personally picked before Richard died.

 

[MadVillainy]

Yeah Epps was scheduled to play Pryor in a previous Pryor biopic. It mentions it in the article i posted.

Also Epps is playing Pryor in the Nina Simone biopic that Zoe Saldana will be in

 

[terry78]

Epps makes me laugh in everything man. His rant in Next Friday is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

 

[kvz5]

Epps would be great.

Also, it'll be good to see Hudson in a worthwhile project again. I remember thinking how much potential she had in Almost Famous and then she just stopped caring. Hathaway would probably get it though.

 

[Dr. Evil]

They really need to go ahead and do this to get it off the ground.

Richard Pryor Jr. is attempting to block this movie from being made.

 

[MadVillainy]

Based on the above tweet from director Lee Daniels, as well as the Instagram post from Oprah Winfrey, I suppose we can now assume that Mike Epps has indeed beating out the competition and has been cast as Richard Pryor in a film that will be directed Daniels.

And we can also assume that Oprah is involved in the as well, likely both in front of and behind the camera, as she's done recently on films like "Selma."


Earlier this month, Nick Cannon all-but confirmed in a video interview with TMZ, that he would play Richard Pryor in Lee Daniels' film.

Daniels has not spoken publicly about casting the project, until now, with recent reports saying that Mike Epps has actually been the front-runner for the job, after he reportedly blew Daniels and producers - The Weinstein Company - away with his audition.

Cannon, as well as Michael B. Jordan and Marlon Wayans (who was attached to star in the project before it changed producer hands), were also in contention for the part under Daniels' direction.

Also, Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway were said to both be in the running to play Jennifer Lee Pryor in the film.

I should note that Mike Epps actually plays Richard Pryor in Cynthia Mort's Nina Simone film that Zoe Saldana stars in.

It's also worth noting that, Richard Pryor's son has threatened legal action in a move to block production on Daniels' in-development film about the legendary comic. Lawyers representing Richard Pryor, Jr. have reportedly sent a cease and desist letter to Pryor's (the father's) widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor, who is involved in the making of the film. The letter, obtained by TMZ, insists that all work on the project stop, accusing Jennifer Lee of using "illegal, fraudulent" activity to obtain the rights to her husband's story. Pryor Jr. is also reportedly threatening to take legal action, if the biopic does moves forward.

No comment yet from Jennifer Lee nor Lee Daniels in response to the son's statements, but, clearly, with The Weinstein Company attached, I'd say it's moving forward, with Mike Epps in the staring role, Lee Daniels directing, and Oprah Winfrey involved in some capacity.

This could be the dramatic catalyst that Epps needs to encourage producers to see him as more than a comedian/comedic actor.

I should note that, last year saw the release of what was dubbed the definitive documentary on Pryor's life, directed by Marina Zenovich (known mostly for directing the multiple award-winning 2008 documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired").

Jennifer Lee Pryor was also producer of the doc, giving director Marina Zenovich access to estate photos and other materials, as many of Pryor's friends and family opened up for the project, which focused on Pryor's transformation from successful but mild stand-up comedian, to successful but dangerous social critic.

Titled "Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic," the doc was broadcast on Showtime last fall, as part of a new documentary series showcase titled "Closeup," which gives measured and complex looks at the lives of several notable public figures, with Richard Pryor being among the first to be "provocatively studied," as Showtime described it.

Stay tuned for updates on the Daniels/Epps biopic.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowan...-richard-pryor-in-lee-daniels-biopic-20140825

 

[Dr. Evil]

Oprah Winfrey as Producer = Movie will get made.

Example is Selma, one of the films about MLK. It was slow to progress and still in pre-production but as soon as Oprah came on board as producer, the film was fast tracked and it's now in post-production.

 

[DarkKnight88]

I hope they don't end up sugarcoating his life and make this PG-13. It would be impossible. Such a great comedian, but not the best human being.

 

[MadVillainy]

Yeah that would be a disappointment.

That's what happened with Get on Up. Great performances but they sugarcoated some aspects of his life

 

[terry78]

I think with him being such an r rated comedian they won't but I know the son don't even want it made.

 

[gwynplaine]

Yeah that would be a disappointment.

That's what happened with Get on Up. Great performances but they sugarcoated some aspects of his life

It would. Isn't that the reason Sacha Baron Cohen left the Freddie Mercury Biopic?
Too bad for Get on Up, a non sugarcoated version of James Brown's life would have been so great.

 

[MadVillainy]

Get on Up is still a fairly good biopic. Boseman is incredible.
And yeah that's what I heard about the Freddy Mercury pic.


Also can we get a thread title change?

 

[Dr. Evil]

This movie still may not happen if Richard Pryor Jr. proceeds with the lawsuit.

 

[gwynplaine]

Get on Up is still a fairly good biopic. Boseman is incredible.
And yeah that's what I heard about the Freddy Mercury pic.


Also can we get a thread title change?

Cool, I'll check it out

 

[MadVillainy]

The editing is weird and the breaking the fourth wall isnt used enough to be justified, but yeah well worth the watch

 

[Pink Ranger]

The lawsuit likely won't succeed. You cannot copyright a real person's life story as if it were an intellectual property like Batman. Permission from the closest family is usually done as a nice and meaningful gesture, but is usually not necessary.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Oprah is headed back to the big screen!

ET can exclusively confirm that Oprah, 60, will be playing Richard Pryor's grandmother, Marie Carter, in Lee Daniels' highly anticipated biopic on the legendary comedian.

Pryor, who died from a heart attack in 2005, had a notoriously complicated relationship with his grandmother. Pryor grew up in a house of prostitution run by Marie, when his mother Gertrude walked out on the family when he was 10 years old.

PHOTOS: Stars Take on Real Life Roles

Oprah recently confirmed on her Instagram that actor Mike Epps, 43, will play Pryor, also hinting at her involvement in the film as well.

"@theoriginalbigdaddy, @eppsie, and me just finished a great 1st read session. #RichardPryorMovie," Oprah posted on her Instagram Sunday.

This of course isn't the first time Oprah his worked with Daniels. She memorably starred in Lee Daniels' The Butler last year, and co-executive produced Precious alongside Tyler Perry in 2009.

Epps beat out big names such as Nick Cannon, Marlon Wayans and Michael B. Jordan to play Pryor.

No word yet on who will play Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee Pryor, who's also producing the film, though rumor has it that Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway are both frontrunners for the role.

Though things obviously didn't work out for Nick Cannon, check out the America's Got Talent host talking about his desire to play Richard Pryor in the video below.

http://www.etonline.com/movies/1503...d_pryor_grandma_lee_daniels_biopic/index.html

 

[Sawyer]

So is any progress being made on this thing or what?

 

[MadVillainy]

Im wondering the same damn thing. I actually was hoping this was bumped for some news

Last I heard Mike Epps was on tour. There was a pic of him and Kate Hudson, Im guessing, in character. I dont know if Im allowed to post it