DISQUS

Film School Rejects: No, Thank You: Eddie Murphy as Richard Pryor

  • CMW · 8 months ago
    What about Dave Chapelle? A part like that would give him the chance to prove himself as an actor...if he is one.
  • The Napster · 8 months ago
    I agree. Chapelle is a good choice, but he's unstable. Eddie Murphy would suck as Richard Pryor. He just doesn't have it anymore. He wants to do movies for money, which is fine, but make sure they are at least funny.
  • ddd · 8 months ago
    chappelle might be the best stand up ever, but he doesnt have the chops to carry a biopic about pryor. he doesnt have the ability to imitate dead on like eddie murphy can.
  • _Christopher_M · 8 months ago
    he just has to play crazy which wouldn't be a stretch for Dave...I just love the idea of Pryor's life being put on film...growing up in a brothel and doing drugs at a very very young age may make for one of the most shocking bio-pics...I hope they don't water things down...setting himself on fire while smoking crack is another shocking aspect....
  • Big Dave · 8 months ago
    I don't know - if you ever saw Raw, he can do a credible Richard Pryor. In the end, I think the script would be the first deciding factor - if someone wrote it as a "vehicle" for Murphy, then the game would be over before it started. If it were written as a serious biopic with comedic underpinings, Murphy could try to reclaim some of what he had. Without a script, its a coin toss.
  • ANGRYBROOMSTICK · 8 months ago
    agreed
  • ANGRYBROOMSTICK · 8 months ago
    he was amazing in Dreamgirls, I think he just have been given too many bad comic roles. Give him the right role, and Murphy will deliver.
  • Bryan · 8 months ago
    eddie murphy does a dead on pryor impressions. wtf are you guys talking about. have anyone of you seen delirious or raw? the man is still a talent. he wont be writing or directing this so itll be good. murphy is still one of the best stand ups of all time. his movies blow, but the man has skills. look at snl from the 80s and his old stand up. this will be good for him. biopics usually turn out well anyway.
  • postprandial_sx · 8 months ago
    like it says above.. I think eddie murphy from Raw or delirious days would definitely pull it off. He's just not the same guy he was back then.

    Richard Pryor is the man! I still listen to his shows, one funny ass dude.
  • WhoButMe84 · 8 months ago
    RIchard Pryor actually chose Mike Epps to play the role, before he passed away, I think that he would make a great Richard!
  • blckmanjew · 8 months ago
    yea but nobody wants to see Mike Epps
  • Blade16707 · 8 months ago
    I would personally go with Steve Harvey
  • amber mason · 8 months ago
    richard pryor has a son twenty one years old in columbus ohio who is a dead on to his father and he does stand-up comedian. his name is mason pryor. you tube his first show
  • Joey · 8 months ago
    Cole, why don't you go cream your pants about the Watchmen again? All you do on this site is talk about how The Watchmen is going to be the greatest movie ever made, and any time you talk about Eddie Murphy you act like he is horrible. Eddie is a Great comedian and was EXTREMLY close to Richard. When Eddie was a young comedian, Pryor guided him to being great. You need to get off his nuts, he has had some flops, but has had some GREAT ones as well.
  • blckmanjew · 8 months ago
    yea you and watchmen suck ass
  • Julian Dean Shapiro · 8 months ago
    Yeah, Cole. Why don't you get a life already?
  • PaulSileo · 8 months ago
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  • Troy · 8 months ago
    If it was Brian Robbins shopping this around then I'd understand Cole's objections, but this Bill Condon writing and directing, hardly a slouch, so that should alleviate some fears.
  • jack2jack · 8 months ago
    I agree, Brian Robbins needs to stick to turning Nick kids into movie stars on the big screen. Mike has the likeness of Richard. But can not deliver the comedic genius that is Richard Pryor.

    It will be interesting to see how far back in his history they go. If they'll include his drug running days from Chicago to Cleveland. He was much funnier off stage, back then when he first started out.
  • Arou101 · 8 months ago
    This movie better go redband. Pryor=redband,
  • _Christopher_M · 8 months ago
    Eddie does great impressions for sure but the acting could be an issue
  • Adam · 8 months ago
    Well I can agree that if Eddie does not bring it then it'll suck, but to be honest with you if any part is going to make Eddie Murphy bring his best and actually bust his ass it would be playing Richard Pryor. Just based upon the tremendous amount of respect he has for Pryor I can't see him not giving it his all.

    So really "have a Coke and a smile and shut the fuck up"
  • JMoney · 8 months ago
    Despite his shitty string of movies over the last few years, I think Eddie would take this seriously, I think he probably has a lot of respect for Pryor and would want to make sure he portrayed him accurately. But man would be weird for him, you're acting as someone you knew in real life, odd.
  • Sam_isusingan_ · 8 months ago
    Pryor was the biggest influence on Eddie Murphy's early career, and he is a talented comedian, even if in the last 10 years he's put out mostly garbage. I'm going to keep hope alive on this one.

    If Murphy and Condon make an R rated movie with good writing, I think it will be ok. As long as no one tries to kiddie up the film (and really, how in the fuck could you), it should be fine. Murphy's biggest "failing" has been trying to do accessible family / kids movies.
  • April · 8 months ago
    Somewhere along the line Eddie lost his funny bone. He was great in Dreamgirls, although it certainly wasn't a comedy. Remember Richard Pryor's life was far far far from funny. With Bill Condon directing combined with Eddie's respect and admiration for Pryor I really think Eddie could really bring it!
  • Stephanie D. Watkins · 7 months ago
    I think that Eddie is a very talented person and could play Pryor well; however, he looks nothing like Richard. Nevertheless, I do not believe they would be able to find someone who could perform the life of Pryor like Murphy.
  • david girard · 7 months ago
    And just who is the same person they were 22 years ago??!!! Eddie has a distinguished career. Whether you personally like his films or not, he has had an audience since 1980, which is more than I can say for half of the actors in the business. His name still sells tickets and no one can deny his brilliance in DreamGirls. Every actor doesn't make great films all of the time. It's impossible, but to deny that he is a good actor, a comedic genius, and the only comedian who carry on the legacy prior started is ridiculous. All the Eddie Murphy haters aren't old enough to appreciate what he has done for almost 30 years. Do the research. To Eddie, I say shine on, bruh. Shine on!!!
  • extant · 6 months ago
    DAVID-ALLEN-GRIER!!!! nuff said