Marlon Wayans Takes Over For Eddie Murphy In 'Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said' Biopic

In a move that seemingly confirms Eddie Murphy’s commitment to taking on crap work and Marlon Wayans sometimes-bid to be taken seriously (every few years? See “Requiem For a Dream”), the duo have switched places on the Bill Condon to-be-directed biopic of Richard Pryor, titled, “Richard Pryor: Is it Something I Said.”

In the works for several years (we have a script lying around too, but who knows how out of date it is now) the project gained traction earlier this year when Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls, “Kinsey”) came on board and confirmed the participation of Eddie Murphy in the lead role playing Pryor, a portrait he used to do quite convincingly in his stand-up days.

Condon led Murphy to an Academy Award nomination for “Dreamgirls,” in 2007, but perhaps the sting of losing left the comedian cold on the idea of laying himself bare once again on screen. After all, there is another “Beverley Hills Cop” movie to make. Whatever the reasoning is. Murphy is officially out and Marlon Wayans is now officially in his place.

Is Wayans going to try and finally transition into Jamie Foxx’s role of comedian-turned-serious-actor? Does he have the mettle to pull this off in a leading role? Condon must think so, but we’re not entirely convinced yet. Though according to Entertainment Weekly, Wayans blew away “the producers away with a 13- min screen test where he transformed into Pryor.”

EW first reported that Wayans was in discussions to take over the role and Hitflix confirmed today that he indeed has the role. This is a Sony Pictures project via Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison production company (not Fox Searchlight as some had reported, but it appears they were onboard when Murphy was attached, so was Paramount at one point) and it’s currently budgeted at $20 million. If all goes well they hope to be shooting next spring.