Lee Daniels has finally found his Richard Pryor—and he made the announcement with a little help from his friend Oprah Winfrey.
On Sunday, Aug. 24, Winfrey posted a picture on her Instagram of herself, Lee Daniels, and Mike Epps after the trio had completed a first read-through of the Richard Pryor movie. Daniels did the same shortly after on his Twitter, confirming Epps’ starring role.
Epps later tweeted a picture of himself with Richard Pryor’s wife, Jennifer Pryor, after the two met so Epps could ask for Jennifer’s blessing to portray her husband.
Winfrey’s involvement has not been clarified—though she did star in a supporting role in the director’s previous film, Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
A biopic of the late comic has long been in development, even while Pryor was still alive. (He chose Epps for the role in 2005.) Several other actors have been attached to the project, including Marlon Wayans and Eddie Murphy—but with the backing of Daniels and Winfrey, the film looks to be finally getting off the ground and into the spotlight.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/26/mike-epps-richard-pryor-biopic/