Writer/director Bill Condon, who just completed his debut run as producer of the 2009 Academy Awards, is shopping his script Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? to the studio subsidiaries and independent distributors around town. Eddie Murphy is attached to star. Sources tell EW.com that Fox Searchlight, the studio behind this year's big Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, is interested in the film. The studio, which declined comment, has a relationship with Condon, having partnered with the director on his 2004 feature Kinsey. Condon, who most recently wrote and directed Dreamgirls, had the Pryor biopic set up at The Weinstein Company but was able to pull it out when the indie outfit put it into turnaround. He initially was hoping to secure $30 million to produce the film, but that number, sources say, has dropped down to $25 million. Murphy, who has featured Pryor impersonations in his act as far back as the 1987 concert movie Raw, seems a likely choice for this role.
i'm a huge richard pryor fan so i'm hoping this will turn out good.
Rypro 525
02-26-09, 09:54 PM
Eddie Murphy should just go back to doing Stand Up full time
Solid Snake PAC
02-26-09, 10:57 PM
I just saw Delirious...it's amazing...
Off-screen Woman: DO MR. ROB!!!
off-screen guy: SHUT UP, BITCH!!!
No, if there is anyone that could pull this off it's Murphy. And as long as they don't water it down and go into Pryor's dark side with his history with drugs this could turn out really good. Tracey Morgan is wrong for this part, the only other person that may be able to pull this off is Jamie Foxx but I think that Murphy is perfect for the role.
Murphy did a skit on SNL that had a character, Mr. Robinson...it was like an urban Mr. Rogers.
DonnachaOne
02-27-09, 12:26 AM
Pryor himself had wished for Mike Epps to play him, apparently.
Charlie Goose
02-27-09, 09:06 AM
I just saw Delirious...it's amazing...
Delirious is one of the best standup shows I have ever seen. I practically had it memorized way back when.
Still, Murphy as Pryor? I don't see it, even though he does a good impression.
Now Mike Epps, I can see that.
toddly6666
02-27-09, 09:29 AM
then who's going to star in the Eddie Murphy biopic?
sauce07
02-27-09, 10:24 AM
I think this has a 0% chance of being PG-13
Thrush
02-27-09, 11:13 AM
Wasn't Jo Jo Dancer essentially a biography?
bootsy
02-27-09, 12:03 PM
Wasn't Jo Jo Dancer essentially a biography?
Yes a terrible biography.
iamiam
02-27-09, 12:10 PM
then who's going to star in the Eddie Murphy biopic?
Why, Eddie, of course.
KillerCannibal
02-27-09, 12:15 PM
I think Murphy is the right choice for this. I know he's still got the ability to be crude and funny, I just don't get why he's not utilizing his talents. This would be a good vehicle to get him back on track.
toddly6666
02-27-09, 02:32 PM
Nope, it's not gonna be R-Rated...it's going to be a PG-rated biopic if it stars Eddie Murphy. And there will be some kid actors thrown in there too...
Mondo Kane
02-27-09, 02:38 PM
I thought Mike Epps was in the running to play this. If it ever gets made, I wonder who's gonna play wife #3 :hump:
Goat3001
02-27-09, 03:50 PM
I think Murphy is the right choice for this. I know he's still got the ability to be crude and funny, I just don't get why he's not utilizing his talents. This would be a good vehicle to get him back on track.
:up: I agree. And considering that he was good friends with Richard Pryor, I'm sure he'd be amped up to go back to his roots and make this movie.
PopcornTreeCt
02-27-09, 04:18 PM
No, if there is anyone that could pull this off it's Murphy. And as long as they don't water it down and go into Pryor's dark side with his history with drugs this could turn out really good. Tracey Morgan is wrong for this part, the only other person that may be able to pull this off is Jamie Foxx but I think that Murphy is perfect for the role.
This is a standard requirement for a biopic.
inri222
02-27-09, 04:59 PM
I thought Mike Epps was in the running to play this. If it ever gets made, I wonder who's gonna play wife #3 :hump:
Here's the cast
Eddie Murphy....................Richard Pryor
Eddie Murphy....................Redd Foxx
Eddie Murphy....................Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy....................Wife #3
chris_sc77
02-27-09, 05:24 PM
I cant imagine Murphy being interested in doing this unless Pryor has obese females in his family and Murphy is demanding to play those roles as well.
Murphy is obsessed with transvestitism..
Torchur317
02-27-09, 05:30 PM
Murphy is the wrong choice...I think this should be Tracey Morgan's big break
Hell no, Murphy is perfect for this....
Tracey Morgan is only good in small doses on things like 30 Rock....
EdTheRipper
02-27-09, 06:06 PM
I think Murphy is the right choice for this. I know he's still got the ability to be crude and funny, I just don't get why he's not utilizing his talents. This would be a good vehicle to get him back on track.
Hell yeah. I'd love to see him return to the form he had when he first started.
rexinnih
02-27-09, 06:59 PM
I agree that Murphy would be good for the role. Let's see how this one plays out.
NoirFan
02-27-09, 08:56 PM
Nope, it's not gonna be R-Rated...it's going to be a PG-rated biopic if it stars Eddie Murphy. And there will be some kid actors thrown in there too...
If any film has to be R-rated, this is it. Language aside, Pryor's freebasing snafu alone would give this an R rating. It would be nice to see Murphy become relevant for the first time in two decades, but I'll believe it when I see it.
devilshalo
10-08-09, 12:56 PM
'Pryor' engagement for Condon
Director in talks with Columbia, Happy Madison
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Bill Condon is in discussions with Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison for a deal that would allow him to direct his Richard Pryor film -- with Marlon Wayans playing the legendary standup comedian -- next spring.
In the configuration being discussed, "Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?" would be produced by Happy Madison's Adam Sandler and Jack Giarraputo, along with Chris Rock, Mark Gordon and Jennifer Pryor. The film would be made for under $20 million, with a spring production start eyed.
The studio would not comment on a pending deal, and sources cautioned that deals weren't done. Roles besides the lead haven't been cast, though sources said that Sandler has considered logging a cameo, possibly as Pryor's first manager, Sandy Gallin.
The project has nearly come together several times for Condon, who first set it up with his "Dreamgirls" star Eddie Murphy. It was developed at the Weinstein Co., but Harvey Weinstein let Condon shop it with the idea that he would put it into turnaround. Paramount and then Fox Searchlight considered it but ultimately decided the budget was too high because of the deal that Murphy was seeking.
Condon then began building the picture around Wayans, who most recently starred in "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra."
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I guess Eddie priced himself out of the role. -rolleyes-
sz_A6K9rSko
Dr Mabuse
10-08-09, 01:03 PM
A Wayans?
I'll pass...
Even something abysmally bad like Jamie Foxx being involved would beat out a stinking Wayans brother.
KillerCannibal
10-08-09, 01:04 PM
This could have been Eddie's Oscar, if he did it right.
I'll pass on a Wayans...
hapgilmore
10-08-09, 01:21 PM
As unfunny as Marlon is now-a-days, lets not forget that he was once the co-writer and co-star of both Don't be a Menace and Scary Movie. If he can get his comedic genius back, this could work (although I'm not sure about his dramatic chops).
KillerCannibal
10-08-09, 01:31 PM
As unfunny as Marlon is now-a-days, lets not forget that he was once the co-writer and co-star of both Don't be a Menace and Scary Movie. If he can get his comedic genius back, this could work (although I'm not sure about his dramatic chops).
Oh, I haven't forgotten...
Rypro 525
10-08-09, 01:39 PM
(although I'm not sure about his dramatic chops).
see Requiem for a Dream His performance in that is very good
Solid Snake PAC
10-08-09, 01:41 PM
see Requiem for a Dream His performance in that is very good
Bitch what you may about Wayans' films...Requiem for A Dream shows that he can act. Sadly...I don't think most of his fanbase knows he was in this film. He can act when he really needs to..otherwise he does his comedies.
Buy: