This was news to me... Can anyone verify this?

A YouTube video says the character Ruby Rhod in Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element" was written with Prince in mind. It says Prince originally agreed to the part, but later backed out. The role was eventually filled by Christ Tucker.

According to the video, the film's costume designer believes Prince backed out because he didn't like the outfits designed for his character. They were too feminine.

The video is about ten movie characters that were written for a specific actor, but eventually replaced by another actor. The link I'm providing should cue it up to the part about Prince, so that you don't have to watch the stories of the other actors if you don't want to.

"10 Movie Roles Obviously Designed For Other Actors" [Link]: #mce_temp_url#

[Edited 11/14/24 6:07am]

Discussed previously here, for example, over the years:

2017: https://prince.org/msg/7/437648

2015: https://prince.org/msg/7/419515

2013: https://prince.org/msg/7/402700

2010: https://prince.org/msg/7/345699

Wow, never heard of this. Fantastic news to me!

Seen the movie many times.

Fun kitsch and great hilarious acting by Chris Tucker!

I can (not) imaging Prince doing it better for that part, to be honest.

My god! How fantastic would that 've been, right?

But... For sure, during the preparations for the movie, working with costume designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, it is easy to imagine how Prince and extravagant Gaultier are difficult to combine as work partners.

Gaultier, ultimately gay as fuck in the best way possible, (more) open(minded than Prince for sure) and with an overwhelming personality, wanting for example to provide a fake big (hairy) ass (in french "Faux Cul", or as mentioned hilariously in this video as a wrong pronounciation english-french sounding "Fuck You").

I can hear Gaultier say it right now, while smashing his own buttocks. LOL )))))))

For sure, Prince was not into all this freakishness, at all (I think).

I mean, Prince thinking the costumes were be feminin?Excuse me?

Come on! Don't make me laugh!

Just look at most of Prince's outfits! Right?

And his explanatin he had a tour going on was a lame excuse to get out of it i think.

It would've been a great adition to his legacy though.

But by the time in 1995-96, while preparations were in the works, Prince was already becoming quite prudish.

It's also around this time i belive Prince and Larry Graham met during some gig in Nashville.

Anyways, what a pitty.

This would've been a fantastic role for him.

Apparently already designed in 1992! (so Prince couldn't have met Larry Graham yet as I assumed).

But woudl've looked great on Prince! ))))

-

By the way, imagine this :

The scene with the luxury vacation aboard that flying hotel on planet 'Fhloston', with talkshow freak 'Ruby Rhod' (supposedly Prince's role), they had a concert going on by a band named 'Plavalaguna'.

This also should've been a great side cameo for Prince, having him perform, and maybe writing a song for it.

I can dream, right?

[Edited 11/14/24 8:11am]

I assume Prince would have want to portray the character in a way similair to Christopher Tracy -- an extravagent con man type. I could see why he'd be relucant to protray the character as flamboyantly effeminate. Not that Christopher Tracy was super masculine, but compared to the way Tucker portrayed Ruby, Christopher Tracy might as well have been Hulk Hogan.

Vannormal said:

Wow, never heard of this. Fantastic news to me!

?

You were discussing this back in 2013

https://prince.org/msg/7/402700

(replies 12 and 13).

langebleu said:

langebleu said:

Vannormal said:

Wow, never heard of this. Fantastic news to me!

?

You were discussing this back in 2013

https://prince.org/msg/7/402700

(replies 12 and 13).

This explains alot.
Mainly about the lack of awareness and overall humor/humanism watching over this domain

langebleu said:

Vannormal said:

Wow, never heard of this. Fantastic news to me!

?
You were discussing this back in 2013
https://prince.org/msg/7/402700
(replies 12 and 13).

LOL, 2013 is 73 years ago, right?

Well, thank you for reminding me of this.

My friends say the same, my short memory proves early dimentia.

Then again my head is full with sooooo much knowledge.

I forgive myself. ))))

lurker316 said:

RODSERLING said:

Already known information.

Irocnically, your point is also "already knonw information". A couple of posts upthread already pointed out that this is old news and has been discussed in older threads. So you, too, are pointing out something that was already stated.

lurker316 said: