Word on the street (and by “the street” I mean Variety) is that Spike Lee has signed on with Paramount to direct a biopic of recently deceased Sex Machine James Brown.
The project has been in development for a while, and Brown was actively involved before he passed away aged 73 early Christmas Day.
Lee will rewrite a script that’s already been through a few drafts, with production to begin either 2007 or 2008. Brown had an eventful 73 years, so it’ll be interesting to see how Lee treats certain events. For example, what to do with the fact that Brown replaced his eyebrows with tattoos in 1991?
The bigger question is… who will play The Godfather Of Soul on screen? Maybe Eddie Murphy? Add his Brownesque Dreamgirls performance to starring his James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party impression on Saturday Night Live and we might have a winner.
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Why Eddie Murphy Should Play James Brown… » Screenhead said
December 27 2006 @ 10:07 pm
[...] Spike Lee will soon be donning his thinking (presumably still baseball) cap to cast the lead in his recently announced James Brown biopic and Eddie Murphy must cross his mind at some point. The above video is from an old Saturday Night Live sketch starring the future Axel Foley. Rubadub. [...]
bigdaddycc said
December 29 2006 @ 7:51 pm
Eddie is indeed a great comedic actor, but playing James Brown might be a stretch. But then I thought Jamie Foxx playing Ray Charles was a stretch, but I think the actor that plays J.B. will be basically unknown.
boswell said
January 6 2007 @ 5:28 pm
eddie murphy huh? why not wesley snipes or lesser cuba gooding? > he would made a great muhumad ali , as for the bigger question do we hold all those to be self-evident when it comes to who should direct? or was that already decided? my question is (and dont misunderstand i truly admire spike) but? why not have a woman director? in particular one ‘outside’ someone like julie dash or nneema burnette? to raise a cinematic jihad?
Angelo Williams said
January 10 2007 @ 9:51 pm
No offense to Eddie Murphy i like him and all but he doesn’t look anything like james brown, and people will compare him to jamie foxx in ray because jamie foxx resembled ray and he acted his character out pretty good. If i was you i would consider usher the reason is that he can sing and he resembles james brown and he can act.
Henri said
May 16 2007 @ 3:49 pm
The only character who I think would do a hell of a performance as James Brown would have to be Wayne Brady. He has the look, definitley talented and a pretty good performer. Spike can’t get any closer to that.
RRR said
November 7 2007 @ 8:02 am
Prince.
whachcalya' said
December 19 2007 @ 8:49 pm
That is a good thought for Wayne Brady to play James Brown…he has the talent and the moves.
If Michael Jackson was not so light he could of played him..I do not know any makeup will make him darker to play James Brown. Maybe MJ will think about the offer…that’s if he turns his skin color to dark brown..what do you think?
gwz said
February 1 2008 @ 7:42 pm
its gonna be Wesley “In From The Cold” Snipes. It is written.