Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? Biopic Coming from Producer Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker has signed on to produce Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?, a biopic centering on the life of late comedian Richard Pryor. The actor will produce alongside the comedian's widow, Jennifer Pryor and his Significant Productions partner Nina Yang Bongiovi.

The actor-producer will oversee the development of a new screenplay, although it isn't known if a writer has been attached yet. Forest Whitaker recently produced the indie hit Fruitvale, which won the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Bill Condon was previously attached to direct Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?, which had Marlon Wayans poised to play the comedy legend. The project fell apart when Bill Condon signed on to direct The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2. Since Forest Whitaker is developing a whole new screenplay, it seems unlikely they will keep that previous title. No production schedule was given.

Richard Pryor overcame an unconventional childhood, being raised in a brothel, to become a legend with his edgy brand of stand-up comedy that captivated the nation. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the 1974 comedy classic Blazing Saddles and starred in a string of 1980s comedy hits such as Stir Crazy, The Toy, Brewster's Millions, and many more.

Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? is in development .

There's something about this project that makes me wonder if it will ever come to light, floating with the Hendrix and Gaye projects in the phantom zone.

namepeace said:

There's something about this project that makes me wonder if it will ever come to light, floating with the Hendrix and Gaye projects in the phantom zone.

Agreed.

namepeace said:

There's something about this project that makes me wonder if it will ever come to light, floating with the Hendrix and Gaye projects in the phantom zone.

I think all three projects are doomed in a way and they won't come out. That's just my prediction.

I just don't understand the choice of Forest Whitaker. Really? Seems to me Paul Mooney would be the logical choice.

Is It Something I Said is one of the best if not the best comedy album Richard did. I remember distinctly the first time I heard it. I thought I was going to pass out, I laughed so hard.

Shyra said:

NDRU said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

NDRU said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I don't think the Wayans would make this White Chicks or LittleMan. It would be more like The Five Heartbeats.

Maybe if Robert Townsend was involved, or someone else with a darker side

Watch Requiem for a Dream. Marlon can handle this role.

namepeace said:

NDRU said:

LittleBLUECorvette said: Maybe if Robert Townsend was involved, or someone else with a darker side

Watch Requiem for a Dream. Marlon can handle this role.

I watched part of that and was actually shocked with how Marlon did the role. So yeah I can see him tackling the dark side of Richard.

namepeace said:

NDRU said:

LittleBLUECorvette said: Maybe if Robert Townsend was involved, or someone else with a darker side

Watch Requiem for a Dream. Marlon can handle this role.

Marlon definitely can do this. I don't trust his brothers, however, to direct it. I hope Whitaker steers clear of that possibility.

[Edited 3/30/13 9:26am]

Lammastide said:

namepeace said:

Watch Requiem for a Dream. Marlon can handle this role.

Marlon definitely can do this. I don't trust his brothers, however, to direct it. I hope Whitaker steers clear of that possibility.

Exactly, the Wayans are funny, and Marlon obviously can do a dark role, and those are two crucial features of a Pryor movie.

But the pieces still don't quite add up for me.

NDRU said:

Lammastide said:

Marlon definitely can do this. I don't trust his brothers, however, to direct it. I hope Whitaker steers clear of that possibility.

Exactly, the Wayans are funny, and Marlon obviously can do a dark role, and those are two crucial features of a Pryor movie.

But the pieces still don't quite add up for me.

Some of us who grew up giggling while playing Richard's records with the volume way down low so our parents couldn't hear us have the image of Richard set in our minds already. It's gonna be hard for anyone to take it on, Marlon Wayans or anyone.

namepeace said:

NDRU said:

Exactly, the Wayans are funny, and Marlon obviously can do a dark role, and those are two crucial features of a Pryor movie.

But the pieces still don't quite add up for me.

Some of us who grew up giggling while playing Richard's records with the volume way down low so our parents couldn't hear us have the image of Richard set in our minds already. It's gonna be hard for anyone to take it on, Marlon Wayans or anyone.

namepeace said:

NDRU said:

Exactly, the Wayans are funny, and Marlon obviously can do a dark role, and those are two crucial features of a Pryor movie.

But the pieces still don't quite add up for me.

Some of us who grew up giggling while playing Richard's records with the volume way down low so our parents couldn't hear us have the image of Richard set in our minds already. It's gonna be hard for anyone to take it on, Marlon Wayans or anyone.

It's really tough with well known performers. Do you get someone who can do a great impersonation like Jamie did with Ray, or just get a good actor like Joaquin Phoenix for Johnny Cash

Ray aside, I would probably go for the latter. But more often than that, I would rather see a documentary!

NDRU said:

namepeace said:

Some of us who grew up giggling while playing Richard's records with the volume way down low so our parents couldn't hear us have the image of Richard set in our minds already. It's gonna be hard for anyone to take it on, Marlon Wayans or anyone.

It's really tough with well known performers. Do you get someone who can do a great impersonation like Jamie did with Ray, or just get a good actor like Joaquin Phoenix for Johnny Cash

You know, I sw Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Cash as brilliant, but IMO because he was trying hard NOT to impersonate Cash. They seemed to have some things in common, so it just flowed. I think Cash would have respected that Phoenix sang for himself.

OTOH, Foxx as Ray Charles, a dead-on impersonation, was just as effective, but he had that ability to mimic.

With Richard, he was so unique, it's hard to make that call. But Wayans may have it in him to find a happy medium between mimicry and "Method."

Ray aside, I would probably go for the latter. But more often than that, I would rather see a documentary!

I tend to agree. After all, not even Richard could play himself (See Jo Jo Dancer . . .)