Lee Daniels Abandons Richard Pryor Biopic

Oscar nominated filmmaker Lee Daniels became the bearer of bad news Sunday, May 9, when it was announced that he was abandoning his role at the helm of the long anticipated Richard Pryor biopic.

Sources for the 56-year-old executive producer of Fox’s “Empire” cited scheduling difficulties as the reason he will be side stepping the project.

Past Daniels production partner, the Weinstein Company, have confirmed that they are in search of replacement to begin shooting on the film in October.

The making of a biopic on the legendary Pryor has been in the works for over a decade, dating back to the comedian’s own participation in the prospective flick before his death in 2005.

As it currently stands, the picture, written by Bill Condon, will take on the title of Pryor’s 1975 Grammy-winning live album, “Richard Pryor: Is It Something I said?”. Kate Hudson (as Pryor’s widow), Oprah Winfrey (as Pryor’s grandmother), and Mike Epps (as Pryor himself) have all signed on to cast in the film.