Mike Epps Lands The Role Of Richard Pryor
Mike Epps has scored the role of a lifetime in getting chosen to play comic legend Richard Pryor in the upcoming biopic directed by Lee Daniels. The news was first announced on Oprah Winfrey’s Instagram account when she posted a photo of herself, Epps and Daniels together, saying – “just finished a great 1st read session. #RichardPryorMovie”.
Lee Daniels also retweeted the photo confirming the casting.
Get ready y'all- #MikeEpps as #RichardPryor pic.twitter.com/0sothu7yVB
— lee daniels (@leedanielsent) August 24, 2014
Mike Epps won the role over other serious contenders, Michael B. Jordan, Marlon Wayans and Nick Cannon. He recently had a reportedly killer screen test that made him the frontrunner to play Prior. This is a part that Epps has been lobbying for since 2005 when he was chosen to play Prior in a biopic directed by Walter Hill. That project fell through.
Fellow comedian Kevin Hart tweeted out congratulions to Epps for getting the part. Hart congratulated Mike Epps in a series of tweets that said despite their differences, he was proud of and happy for Epps. The “differences” Kevin Hart referred to in his tweets is in regards to a feud between Hart and Epps that spilled on to Twitter after Epps called Hart “one overrated comedian” during a radio interview. It led to name calling, like Epps calling Hart “D.L. Hughley Jr.” and Hart tweeting that Epps should kill himself.
I want to take the time to congratulate @TheRealMikeEpps on booking the role of "Richard Pryor"….
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) August 25, 2014
Regardless of our differences in the past I am honestly proud & genuinely happy for u man. As comedians we should root for one another
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) August 25, 2014
Kill that shit pimp….this is huge for u and huge for comedy!!!!! I'm a positive mothafucka people. We put our bullshit behind us! CONGRATS
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) August 25, 2014
