Long-in-development biopic moving forward with new producer.
Hollywood’s 20-year effort to deliver on a biopic of late comedian and actor Richard Pryor is getting fresh blood with reports that actor/director/producer Forest Whitaker (‘Fruitvale,’ ‘The Last Stand,’ ‘Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai’) is teaming up with the groundbreaking comedian’s widow, Jennifer Pryor, to produce the biopic .
The film, currently titled ‘Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?,’ once had Bill Condon (‘Dreamgirls,’ ‘Kinsey’) attached to both write and direct, with Marlon Wayans on board to portray the comedy giant but the project fell into development hell when Condon stepped behind the camera for final two instalments of ‘The Twilight Saga.’
Who could take the role of Pryor? Deadline’s Mike Fleming speculates that Whitaker’s ‘Fruitvale’ star Michael B. Jordan could be in consideration.
Whitaker will produce the film through his Significant Productions banner, and will develop a new script with input from Jennifer. Nina Yang-Bongiovi, Whitaker’s partner over at Significant Productions will also produce.