It's no secret that filmmaker Spike Lee has been looking to get several projects off the ground, including a biopic on legendary soul singer James Brown. At the Sundance Film Festival last week, Lee told MTV that he wants Wesley Snipes to play Brown.
Unlike other movies based on the lives of music greats, Snipes will not be honing his singing skills for the film if green-lighted. "He's my man," Lee said, but when it comes to the vocals on classic tracks such as 'I Got You (I Feel Good)' and 'Get Up Offa That Thing,' "I want to hear James Brown's voice," the director said. "That's just my personal taste."
Shortly after Brown died of congestive heart failure in 2006, Lee and Paramount Pictures tapped Snipes to play the "Godfather of Soul." But with Snipes facing tax-evasion charges and a lack of funding for the film, the project simply faded away. Now that Snipes is making a comeback to the big screen with his role in 'Brooklyn's Finest,' which was picked up for distribution at Sundance, there may be hope yet for the Brown film.
If anyone is counting, we have yet to see biopics on Jackie Robinson, boxer Joe Louis, and Marvin Gaye.
Comments: (26)
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By: ali on 1/30/2009 6:39AM
please NO
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By: Patrick on 1/30/2009 8:45AM
Perfect choice: His chiseled facial profile, his speech pattern, his dancing ability and his stunning role on the Movie "To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything." I grew up on a steady staple of JB in the 60s and 70s. I can't wait.
Spike, you need to add Toussaint L'Ouverture to your list of pending projects. But thank you for trying to preserve Ourstory.
More love!
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By: CC on 1/30/2009 8:51AM
No, how about Eddie Murphy?
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By: MrMellow on 1/30/2009 9:26AM
Great choice! I hope Spike is able to get this movie off the ground. I like the direction Spike has been taking his more recent films and documentaries.
http://www.netpressions.com/celebrities_gn/spikelee.cfm
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By: bragghyattsville on 1/30/2009 10:56AM
I truly love Wesley Snipes. I think he's a very talented actor who deserves much props but, does anyone remember Bow Legged Lou from the group Full Force? I think he would make the perfect James Brown. He had the legs,he can dance, he sings and if I'm not mistaken he has also acted and danced with James Brown in the late 80's or early 90's
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By: Jembyrd on 1/30/2009 11:25AM
Correction: There was a biopic done about Jackie Robinson. It was done in the 50s when I was a little girl. Ruby Dee played his wife and Jackie Robinson played himself in the movie.
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By: Chan on 1/30/2009 12:06PM
The only person who can portray James Brown better than EDDIE MURPHY is James Brown. Spike, dude, what is up with this. I love Wesley, but he ain't no James Brown. Please.
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By: HippyBlood4 on 1/30/2009 1:02PM
Prince could play James, Sly, Little Richard, and Jimi. But who could play Prince?
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By: Nemsen on 1/30/2009 12:58PM
One day a conscious black man and women who
have knowlege of self and have money will go
back into our history and make movies about us
when we was in Kemet (Egypt)greek name for our
home in Africa. they will tell the story about
when the whole world use to come and sit at our
ancestor feet to get knowlege while the rest of
the world was in total darkness
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By: rtbone46 on 1/30/2009 4:14PM
I think Wesley is a very talented Actor. But he has done mostly Action Movies. And he doesn't come off as a Singer. A Ganster or a Cop yes.
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