The Richard Pryor biopic is to go before cameras this year

There has been talks for months (if not years) about a Richard Pryor biopic, but now it seems that the film may go into production later in the year with Marlon Wayans playing the legendary comedian.

Eddie Murphy was previously attached to star in the film but producers have gone with the star of such films as Little Man and the Scary Movie flicks, Marlon Wayans. Why? Marlon defends himself. The actor spoke to the LA Times.

“Look, I want to be able to make the stupidest movies ever, because they make people laugh and they make money,” Wayans recently said with a smirk. “But that’s not all I want to do. And I think I’ve proven to some people — the ones paying attention — that I can do more. Everybody else, well, they can wait and see and make up their mind.”

Wayans has appeared in more serious films like Requiem For A Dream for example. I actually think that Wayans is a great choice for the role — he’s neither an unknown or such a famous face like Murphy. The biopic, titled Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? is said to be going before the cameras this autumn under the direction of Dreamgirls helmer Bill Condon and producer Mark Gordon.

Gordon again defends the choice to play Pryor.

“Obviously there are a number of requirements to playing Richard Pryor — you have to be funny, of course, but this role also has so many colors to it that you need to be a strong actor who can handle the dramatic scenes,” Gordon said. “There were discussions with Eddie Murphy… Eddie Murphy is a great star, and I have no doubt he would be a great Richard Pryor. But Eddie Murphy is Eddie Murphy in the eyes of the audience. Marlon Wayans is a great actor and will be a great Richard Pryor, but he brings less baggage.”

More at the end of the link.

Source: LA Times