Jay Z to Produce Upcoming Richard Pryor Biopic
Jay Z and the Weinstein Company recently announced a two-year film and tv deal, last week. Today (Oct.6) Harvey Weinstein confirmed the businessman and music mogul will be apart of the upcoming Richard Pryor biopic, Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?
During the press conference in New York City, Hov responded to Weinstein's joke about the two working on a more commercial project saying, "There's nothing more commercial than Richard Pryor. His story is an American story."
The film already has several other big names attached to it including, Mike Epps as Pryor, Oprah Winfrey as Pryor's grandmother, and Kate Hudson as Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee Pryor. And the script has been written by Academy Award Winning Screenwriter, Bill Condon.
The title of the film was taken from Pyror’s Grammy-winning live album, released in 1975.
Pryor broke into the industry in the early 1960's and became the top stand-up comedian in the business by the early ’70s. He won five Grammys for his comedy albums and starred in several concert films like the 1982 “Richard Prior — Live on the Sunset Strip,” which was the most lucrative for the comic before he passed away in 2005 from a heart attack.
Back in May, the original director for the film, Lee Daniels, pulled out allegedly due to scheduling issues. Though no one has yet to be named as a director, filming for the biopic is expected to start before the end of this year.
In a press release, Jay Z explained why he's so anxious to be apart of the Weinstein Company film and tv projects.
"I’m excited to tell stories from real-life prophets, whom through their struggles have changed the world for the better, and others whose stories are filled with fantasy and delight."