Comedian and actor Mike Epps wants to give a shout-out to a dear friend: “I love you, Rich,” he says, “I appreciate the opportunity.” It will indeed take a monumental effort from Epps to bring proper life to the tale of Pryor, a comedic icon whose influence still echoes within every punch line delivered by Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy and scores of other comedians.
Ultimately, Epps sees the currently unnamed Pryor movie as the same kind of triumphant, heart-wrenching biopic that turned Jamie Foxx into a megastar last year. Epps is a veteran of the stand-up comedy scene, but insists that it’s his other first-hand experiences that will allow him to melt into the persona of a superstar as effectively as Foxx.