EXCLUSIVE: Spike Lee To Use James Brown’s Real Voice — Not Wesley Snipes’ — For Biopic

Published by Brian Warmoth on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 11:23 am.
James Brown is the lone Godfather of Soul, and even if he looks a lot like Wesley Snipes in Spike Lee’s upcoming biopic, Lee wants to make sure there’s one recognizable voice coming through the microphone when the legendary figure appears on-screen.

“We’re doing it together – it’s going to happen,” Lee told MTV News in an exclusive interview at the Sundance Film Festival this week. The Oscar nominated director of “Do the Right Thing” and “Inside Man” lavished praise on Snipes. “He’s my man,” Lee said; but when it comes to the vocals on Brown’s classic tracks like “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Get Up Offa That Thing,” expect to hear the authentic voice of James Brown being dubbed in.

“I want to hear James Brown’s voice,” the director said. “That’s just my personal taste.”

He’s not the first filmmaker to take the dubbing route in a musical biopic. Taylor Hackford dubbed Ray Charles’ original voice over Jamie Foxx in “Ray.”

“I know Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Walk the Line,’ he did some of the singing,” Lee said, breaking down the decision. “I’m a purist,” he explained.

Lee and Paramount grabbed Snipes to play Brown in 2007. The project came together shortly after Brown died in 2006 of congested heart failure. Snipes’ big-screen energy summoning Brown’s near mythological stage presence will obviously carry a hefty punch. You have to feel the demands being place on Snipes, though, just to physically imitate James Brown to the point of syncing with his vocals. That task alone should make “Demolition Man” feel like a jog through through Park City, Utah, by contrast.

http://moviesblog.mtv.com...or-biopic/

Somebody needs to ask that fool why he didn't pay his taxes.

2freaky4church1 said:

actor has to have a job to pay taxes!

cheers!
~seven

Didn't know they were working on this. Looking forward to it.

2freaky4church1 said:

I thought the "income" in question was made overseas?

I'm a purist...I want to hear lip synching?

Wesley?

Oh I'm so f--king excited for this biopic!!
But Spike should've picked Wayne Brady because he looks just like James Brown

trueiopian said:

I don't know,,,,I was hoping Spike could recruit somebody unknown.

I can't imagine him doing this at all, but should be interesting to say the least

This movie ain't gonna get made, Wesley still got that sentence from the IRS hanging over his head.

C'mon will somebody mention the BIG ELEPHANT already?

The nucca is old

Harlepolis said:

Hell yeah, at like what, 47, 48 or whatever? Only reason Spike picked him was because Wesley and him go way back.

Timmy84 said:

But didn't James always look 10 years older than he was?

Harlepolis said:

Yeah, Don't suppose Wesley has spent much time dancing like JB neither.Hope he's been practising since '07, but i doubt it. Really, I can see this being a nightmare.

I dare say, Spike is way past his best as a director too.

namepeace said:

They still could've put an older-looking young man to play him...

Wesley is 1/2 a century old, to be exact

And I know JB(god rest his soul) was a lil' too busted and bucktoothed in the face, but a younger blood might bring a fresher outlook,,,,thats just me though.

STILL...

In this day & age, I'm content with Wesley,,,at least the man is a skilled actor and not some rapper/singer turned actor

He looks a little like Brown in this pic:



A little more info regarding his possible jail time...

"Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison in April 2008 after he was convicted of federal income tax evasion, so while the actor remains free while awaiting an appeal, Lee will need to rush in order to get this film made with Snipes in the lead role. We were kind of leery about whether Snipes still had the ability to take on such a high-profile performance, especially considering how his last six films were Direct-to-DVD, by-the-books action movies filmed in Europe while he was in exile from the U.S. But then we remembered Snipes’ turns in Major League and White Men Can’t Jump and felt better about the casting choice.

Lee and Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to the Brown biopic shortly after the singer died in 2006 of heart failure. Snipes signed on for the role in 2007. Lee has his hands full in 2009, with a planned Inside Man sequel and a Michael Jordan documentary also in the works."

Harlepolis said:

No! No! No! JB had a 50plus year career, I'm sure they'll do the usual skip past the childhood and teen years, then onto his twenties.

Wesley IS too damn old to play JB even in his thirties!. It won't work, barring a shitload of CGI smoothing out of Wesleys face. And we know that won't happen.

Shit, where are they going to start this biopic? fucking Rocky IV?

Harlepolis said:

How is this muthafucka gonna go from doing exercise infomercials with Chuck Norris and Billy Joel's ex wife to playing James muthafuckin Brown?!

Harlepolis said:

I'm actually imagining Wayne Brady with James Brown's big-ass hair now!

Anything is possible in Hollywood.

bboy87 said:

EXACTLY!

You know what Wesley resembles, REALLY resembles, Jackie?

Harlepolis said:

JackieBlue said:

The real question here is can he dance .....James was the master of dance before Prince before Michael Jackson.....Mr. Snipes you have some work on your plate.. no high kicks or kung fu chops here my man...good luck

This is the hardest role in film business.....if you can't move your feet!

LondonStyle said:

::Sit your 5 dollar ass down before I make change!::

I agree

James Brown himself wanted Levar Burton play him. Snipes isn't a bad choice though.

But I have my doubts that this movie will ever happen.He hasn't yet secured funding for it, and Brown's estate situation is still uncertain. No doubt, there'll be a movie about JB sometime in the future, but not anytime soon.