Pass The Popcorn: Eddie Murphy & Oprah Confirmed For Lee Daniels' Forthcoming Richard Pryor Biopic

Eddie Murphy may be etching out his place in the musical cosmos, but that hasn't stopped him from accepting a role in Lee Daniels' anxiously-anticipated Richard Pryor biopic. A cinematic treatment that already has its leading man in Mike Epps (though Marlon Wayansreally made him work for it,) has reportedly locked in Murphy (who was also once a contender for the role of Pryor himself) as the late comedian's father, Leroy “Buck Carter” Pryor, along with media mogul/actress/activist/gal-of-all-trades, Oprah Winfrey for the role of his brothel-running granny, who raised the comedic titan in those tawdry dwellings.

Murphy and Winfrey join a cast that also features Kate Hudson as Pryor's fourth and sixth wife Jennifer Lee Pryor, who will play a major role in the film's narrative. According to Deadline, the film is moments away from a green-light from The Weinstein Company and if all goes well, will being production in March 2016 upon the conclusion of Daniels blockbuster hip-hop soap opera Empire. Little else is known of the epic biographical film treatment's schedule, but it's certainly shaping up to be a production of massive proportions. Keep your eyes and ears on us for the scoop and keep all of your appendages crossed that this thing sees the (green) light of day. We need it, desperately.

h/t Deadline