Reports indicate that actor/comedian Marlon Wayans is in talks to star in the biopic Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? Last year, rumors went around saying that Eddie Murphy was snagged for the role, but since the production company was switched he is no longer in the running.
Here’s more info:
Sources tell EW.com that Wayans fought for the role, blowing the producers away with a 13- min screen test where he “transforms into Pryor.” The movie depicts Pryor’s controversial brand of comedy and his battle with drugs and is currently budgeted at $20 million. Chris Rock, Pryor’s widow Jennifer Lee Pryor and Mark Gordon are also lined up to produce. Producers are still working out the terms of Wayans’ deal, and other major aspects of the overall project have not been finalized. Sony did not respond to requests for comment. [ SOURCE ]
Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Gods and Monsters) is said to be writing and directing the film.
HE IS GETTIN ROLES BACK TO BACK NOW…GO MARLON!!!
Good for him!
After seeing Requiem for a Dream…yeah, I think he can do it! Hope this works out for him.
i like Marlon but i was pulling for Mike Epps
I think he can pull it off, he’s a better actor then what people give him credit for. I think he will embody the charactor. Good luck Marlon!!!!!
wasn’t “jo jo dancer your life……” enough?
I Think He’s Gonna Suprise Me ALOT!!! Go Marlon!!! Wish You The Best!!
I was pulling for Mike as well but in agreement with Timeteo….I think he is going to surprise us a LOT.
I mean I NEVER in a million years thought Jaime could do Ray Charles…he was sooo silly…but I think it is safe to say he blew all of us out of the water. You never know….Im proud of Marlon..expanding outside the family name. Now if only he would come out of the closet…
This might get him an Oscar nomination…depending on how well he portrays Richard.
I thought Mike Epps was going to do it. He was talking about doing it when Richard Pryor died, but Marlon can act his ass off and he’ll be good. Not to say that Mike Epps can’t act, but I’m cool with Marlon.
Yess!! Im rooting for Marlon, i def. think he can pull it off, he’s great!
It was said that Richard Pryor gave his stamp of approval to Mile Epps before he died, it actually sounded like it was a done deal.I wonder what happened?I love love love Marlon,but I would have much rather seen Mike Epps do this.
I love the fact that Marlon may be playing the role of Richard Pryor. Despite his silly charactes (Scary Movie was my fave!) Marlon is a great actor. As stated by # 3, I was sold after his performance in Requiem for a Dream. He really surprised me and I hope he lands this role! GO MARLON!
Who thought Eddie old corny ass would make a good Pryor? News flash Hollywood- Murphy and Foxx are not the only Black actors who can sell tickets…duh
To those that mentioned Requiem for a Dream, that’s the first thing that came to my mind. He’s silly & mad funny like the rest of the fam but he can actually ACT so I’m looking forward to this! I can see him snagging a Golden Globe or Oscar nod especially with Bill Condon directing him.
Marlon!
YEEEEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!
i’m soooooo glad it’s not Eddie Murphy! anyone but him!
i’m looking forward to this. requiem for a dream made me fall in love with him as an actor. the boy got chops!
ok so i have to go see this requiem for a dream movie…
…but I’M COOL WIT MARLON EITHER WAY…he’s very funny but I think he can do it!!!
Marlon Wayans was in Requiem for a Dream. He is a real good actor.
Def makes sense. If anyone was to do it, it should be him.
If Jamie Foxx can do Ray Charles so well, Marlon can do Richard Pryor! Best of luck to him, I look forwad to seeing this movie whenever it hits theatres
I can see it. I think he will do a good job. I’m glad he is starting to get more serious roles in major movies.
Go Marlon!
Im a BIG FAN of the WAYANS! The whole family is crazy as hell! This might work out! Marlon can act and i wouldnt be surpised if he does a really good job! However i wanted to see Mike Epps also !! Either way this will be a good movie!!!!
YESSSSS!!
But im just saying that cuz i think Marlons just the cutest thing lol
I think Mike Epps is a closer physical representation but Marlon Wayans will be better commercially. In the end its all about the money.
This sounded good until I saw that Bill Condon was directing . . . he did a horrible job of directing Dreamgirls . . .
Congrats Marlon! I still can’t wait to see it . . .
Even though I was pullin for Mike Epps or Eddie Murphy to portray the role more than Marlon, I have no doubt Marlon has the chops to pull off this performance. This will be his biggest role of his career so far because Richard was an icon! But with all these different changes, I wont be surprised if we hear of another actor to play Richard Pryor before production starts.
I Love the Wayans but I think this role should be played by Mike Epps.
Umm Mike Epps is a closer resemblence and actually acts like him on stage…Someone mentioned money. Yes, its all about the money in this business..
I think Mike Epps would probably be a better match just because he looks more like him and he already kind of talks like him too….but I can see Marlon doing this….good for him, I always thought he was funny. His whole family really especially Damon (Major Payne, lol)…I wonder what is was like growing up with them, I bet there was never a day without laughter!!!
I BELIEVE HE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THE ROLE BECAUSE HE CAN IMITATE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AS WELL AS TRANSFORM HIS VOICE. IN ORDER FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS TO GET A OSCAR, WHEN YOU ARE POTRAYING A ROLE THE ” KEY” IS TO MAKE THE AUDIENCE ” BELIEVE” YOU ARE THAT CHARACTER, THERE HAS TO BE NO SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT YOU ARE JAMES BROWN OR WHOEVER YOU ARE POTRAYING. THIS IS WHYJAMIE FOX WON AN OSCAR. PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS RAY. YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO GO ALL OUT. I HEARD BEYONCE SAY, SHE WANTS TO WIN AN OSCAR. MY ADVICE TO BEYONCE IS, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT ROLES WHERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN THE MOVIE MOST OF THE TIME, NOT 10 MINUTES HERE AND THERE. YOU HAVE TO GO ALL OUT, YOU CAN’T PLAY IT SAFE OR CUTE, FOR INSTANCE ETTA JAMES, THE 20 POUNDS GAINED WASN’T REALLY ENOUGH, SHE SHOULD HAVE WORE A FAT SUIT OR GAINED MORE WEIGHT, REMEMBER YOU ARE PLAYING ETTA, THE ” OLD ETTA JAMES”, WHO AT THE TIME WAS A BIG GIRL, MORE LIKE QUEEN LATIFAH SIZE. TOM HANKS PLAYED FORREST GUMP, ALTHOUGH THE CHARACTER WAS FICTION HE HAD TO LOOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT FOR THE ROLE AND TALK WITH AN ACCENT OF SOMEONE WHO WAS MENTALLY CHALLENGED, YOU HAVE TO GO ALL OUT, YOU CAN’T BE SAYING ” WELL, I’M NOT DOING ALL THAT” THESE ARE OSCARS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. ALTHOUGH I FELT DENZEL WASHINGTON SHOULD HAVE WON A OSCAR FOR MALCOLM X, HE DID GREAT PLAYING ” THE BAD COP” IN TRAINING DAY, HE ACTUALLY MADE ME BELIEVE AS WELL AS OTHER HE WAS A BAD COP. HALLE BERRY RECEIVING AN OSCAR FOR ” MONSTER’S BALL” IS A ” RARE SITUATION” , I GUESS THEY WANTED HER WITH HER CLOTHES OFF VERSUS A GREAT ROLE THAT SHE PLAYED LIKE DOROTHY DANDRIDGE OR QUEEN.
If true, Eddie will act a fool…
I wish Mike Epps was doing it but hopefully he does a good job.
I hope he does a good job, Richard is a complex personality
Mike Epps should be doing the movie. Not only would he bring the comedy, but if he grew a thick mustache he would look just like him.
Good luck to him!
Good for Marlon. Damn he is looking exceptionally scrumptious these days, LOL!
Oh yes…Marlon will pull off this role…I’m so happy to see him back on his grind!
I I thought Mike Epps was doing this role, but Marlon is a good actor and he’s been stepping out the Wayans brother shadow so maybe he’ll do it well. I agree with a previous comment that Eddie Murphy shouldn’t be a consideration lol.
help me please
I thought Eddie had the rights to the movie! Oh well good luck Marlon, can’t wait to see the movie!
Hmmmmm….I hope its good.
….Marlon is talented tho so I have high hopes, I just know Eddie has Richard down pat.
Yes Requim for a Dream def showed his acting chops I was so convinced that Marlon was his character I was like damn I’ma need him to get help ASAP, I’m scared…
I thought Mike Epps was going to do this movie, I guess he didn’t go hard enough for the part or producers felt he wasn’t right. I’m sure this will be very good though. Marlon has really done his thing more so than Shawn. He turned out to be the cute one and Shawn always looks questionable to me. I’m looking forward to seeing the movie.
I believe Marlon will do a great job, can’t wait to see the movie!!
NO WAY. IT DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE BEEN EDDIE MURPHY. RICHARD PRYOR WAS HIS IDOL. I CAN TELL MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS POST ARE MAD YOUNG. EDDIE MURPHY STARTED AS A STAND UP COMEDIAN. THAT CAN’T BE TAUGHT. EITHER YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON’T. MARLON DOESN’T HAVE IT AND HE IS CORNY AS HELL.
Go Marlon!
Mike Epps is only funny to me. It would take more than just talking like him and being funny to really give this role your all. Marlon has ACTING chops out of this world. Not just being funny which he is of course.
Being comical and acting are two different things. If you can do both it shows it in the different roles you take. Ex: Chris Tucker can do both.
Im digging this!!!!! Get ‘em Marlon!
he better do mr. pryor justice or else a looot of ppl will be mad!
Mike Epps shouldn’t have been considered portraying Richard Pryor, Mike is such a horrible comedian and even worse actor. Eddie would have been a good choice too, I believe Marlon will do Richard proud.
I see a lot of people wishing Mike Epps would have been cast but he is not an actor. He is a veeery funny man that has appeared in movies, but make no mistake, he is no actor. Pryor had some down moments in his life (it wasn’t all fun and games) and I do not believe that Epps or Murphy would be able to portray that side. And if they did, it would just come across comical. Just my .02
There was only one Richard Pryor,just like there is only one Michael Jordan nobody can play Pryor, not Eddie Murphy,Mike Epps or Marlon Wayans, and Jamie Foxx did a great job portraying Ray Charles,but Jamie has way more natural talent than Marlon.
Marlon can seriously act. He’s got great range so I’m glad he got the part. I hope it’s as good as Jo Jo dancer if they’re going to do it.
Although I think Marlon Wayan’s will do a great job, I have to agree with #45 Bobby. Eddie Murphy is the best person to play Richard Pryor. I also agree that people on this post must be young and don’t understand how Eddie came up. Before they comment, they should check out Eddie Murphy’s “Raw”. I like Mike Epp’s too but Eddie has more inside material that he can use. He was around and friends with him when Richard Pryor was still in his prime. His performance would be more personal and real. Did everyone forget about the movie “Harlem Nights”. D
on’t sleep on Eddie’s talent. He was an underdog during DreamGirls and stole the shine from what was suppose to be “Jamie’s part. He may not be a “Fan favorite”, you can not deny his talent and his longevity.
I really hope this does become a reality (the flim) I think since the idea came about there was mention of Steve Harvey being “tapped” for the role,then I heard Mike (Epps) which I was really “rooting” for him. I think he would been able to “pull it off” I wasn’t feeling Eddie (Murphy) althrough he knew Richard (Pryor) personally and worked with him I’m sure he would have been okay;but still wasn’t feeling him for the role! Now I adore Marlon and I see him being able to defintley “go in” {as Richard Pryor} He’a great actor-we all know he’s great in comdey and dramtic roles,as well. He did both in *ABOVE THE RIM,so I’m sure he would “work this” too. CONGRATS TO HIM! I’m sure he will work extra hard on this flim.
Sorry, I meant to say watch Eddie Murphy’s Delirious comedy show but Raw is good too. Don’t forget also Paul Mooney who also knew Richard and was around during the Eddie and Richard era and time. Paul Mooney should also be apart of this movie. I’m not saying he should play Richard, but he has alot of knowledge that would bring out all of the good, back, and ugly of Richard’s life. If this movie is suppose to be “believeable”, I can’t see Mike Epps pulling this off. He is funny and talented but for “true” Richard Pryor fans, I don’t think he would cut it.
But this is Hollywood, it isn’t about the better person for the part. Its about sales.
I don’t know about this. I guess we’ll have to wait and see? Jamie did a great job as Ray Charles, so maybe Marlon can with Rich.
AWWW HELLLL NO. HELLLLLL NO . HELLLL NO. AND I AM TRYING NOT TO SAY F@@k NO. This clown? Playing Richard PRYOR. WTF? NO. WE NEED A REAL ACTOR TO PLAY this tortured, complicated ICON. THIS man was more than Jokes and MARLON’s Wack Azz barely has that.
ANd I don’t give a WHAT about who thinks otherwise. This is an ACTORS job not some off brand comic.
PURE FOOLISHNESS! HELL NO. HHEELLLLLLZ NO.
Call me a Hater. I Don’t Give a WHAT. This is like asking LIL MAMA to play Diana ROss. HELLZ NO.
Have a nice day.
kindanice.
Marlon is a superb choice. He is awesome in the art of “IMITATION!” Especially it being someone he can relate to and admire! I know he will devote himself for the next few months to embody this character. Do your thing Marlon…my tickets already sold!