Tracy Morgan continues his comeback from a near fatal car crash, and has agreed to join Mike Epps in Lee Daniels’ upcoming Richard Pryor biopic. Foxx was one of Pryor’s idols, and the two collaborated on a few projects throughout the years, including the vastly underrated 1989 comedy Harlem Nights.
The Wrap broke the news about Tracy Morgan’s involvement, and for my money he seems a perfect fit for the heavier, gravel-voiced Redd Foxx. He will join Mike Epps as Pryor, Kate Hudson as Pryor’s wife, Jennifer, Taraji P. Henson and Eddie Murphy as Pryor’s parents, and Oprah Winfrey as his grandmother. It’s a star-studded cast, so hopefully Daniels can handle this material (I’m not a fan).
After returning to host Saturday Night Live, Tracy Morgan appears to be steadily working himself back into Hollywood. Playing Redd Foxx could be a nice role for the comedian. Filming on the yet untitled biopic begins in March.
