Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson and More Join Eddie Murphy's Netflix Film DOLEMITE IS MY NAME!
Eddie Murphy's upcoming Netflix film, Dolemite Is My Name!, just added a great ensemble cast! Murphy will be joined by Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
The film is a biopic that will tell the story of the life of Rudy Ray Moore, the star of the blaxploitation Dolemite films.
Moore worked in a Hollywood record store in 1970 when he began hearing obscene stories of a pimp and hustler named Dolemite. He started a club act where he became Dolemite. He then began generating records that mixed humor and a ghetto fantasy character, burnishing the legend. While too racy to be put on display in record stores, the records became a big inner city underground hit. The proceeds allowed Moore to finance the 1975 film Dolemite, which he starred in as a kung fu-capable pimp ghetto hero who stuck it to The Man. Moore followed with three sequels. He continues to be an influence for the likes of hip hop entrepreneur Snoop Dogg, and he had something of a comeback starring alongside the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse in Big Money Hustlas in 2000.
Murphy is taking on the role of Moore in the film. According to THR, Snipes will play D'Urville Martin, "an arrogant actor and alcoholic who ends up directing Dolemite." There's no word on who the other actors will be playing.
It's good to see that Snipes landed a good sized role in the movie, though! This should be a great role for him to take on.
Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) is directing the film and it has started shooting in Los Angeles.