In the works for years, crossing multiple studios and multiple iterations, Lee Daniels' biopic on comedian Richard Pryor is finally getting the green light from Harvey Weinstein. Mike Epps landed the role of Pryor last year, coincidentally the second time he's won it, and now it's been confirmed that he'll be joined by a phenomenal supporting cast of Oprah Winfrey, Pryor's old friend Eddie Murphy, and Kate Hudson.
The casting had been rumored for quite some time, and this certainly packs the kind of talent that must have Weinstein thinking of Oscar gold. Winfrey, whose last two films were Selma and Lee Daniels' The Butler, will play Pryor's grandmother Marie Carter, who ran the Illinois brothel he grew up in. Hudson will play Pryor's widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor, while Murphy is his LeRoy "Buck Carter" Pryor. It has to be bittersweet casting for Murphy, who was one of Pryor's closest friends.Co-writing the screenplay are Bill Condon, who was supposed to direct a Pryor biopic at one point, and Danny Strong, Daniels' collaborator on The Butler and Fox series, Empire. In fact, filming on the Pryor biopic won't begin until March after they've completed work on Empire's second season. [Deadline]
