According to a story today at The Hollywood Reporter, Tracy Morgan’s comeback following his accident last year is in full-swing. The trade brings word that Morgan is currently in negotiations to join Lee Daniels’ Richard Pryor biopic titled Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?, playing none other than legendary comedian Redd Foxx. The ribald comic gave Pryor his start as a stand-up and later became the star of the phenomenally popular NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son,” which lasted from 1972 to 1977. Redd Foxx co-starred with Pryor in director Eddie Murphy’s 1989 film Harlem Nights, which was promoted as the uniting of three generations of black comedy giants.
“Mr. Foxx, I hope I do you justice!” said Morgan in a statement. “It will be an honor to portray an icon.”
Murphy himself has signed to portray Pryor’s father Leroy Pryor (also known under his boxing name “Buck Carter”) and Taraji P. Henson (“Empire,” “Person of Interest”) his mother Gertrude L. Thomas Pryor, while Oprah Winfrey (The Butler, The Color Purple) will portray Pryor’s grandmother Marie Carter. Mike Epps (The Hangover, Next Friday) will star as Richard Pryor and Academy Award winner Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, Rock the Kasbah) will play Pryor’s widow Jennifer Pryor, who is a producer on the film. December 10 will be the tenth anniversary of Pryor’s death at the age of 65.
Lee Daniels (The Butler, Precious, “Empire”) will direct Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? from a screenplay by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Mr. Holmes) for The Weinstein Company.
Morgan is currently filming the New Line comedy Fist Fight opposite Ice Cube and Charlie Day.
