Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who? My name is chka-chka … get the hell out of here, Slim Shady, Dolemite is in the house!
Netflix has released a batch of groovy first look photos of Eddie Murphy in the upcoming biopic DOLEMITE IS MY NAME. Set to have its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, the feature from HUSTLE & FLOW director Craig Brewer centers on the life and times of Rudy Ray Moore, the comedian famous for his exceptionally adult-themed stand up comedy routine. When Moore was a standout player in the comedy circuit, chuckleheads often delighted in the way Moore injected raps and rhythm into his X-rated material. In time, Moore became known to many as the Godfather of Rap. Those who were hip to his brand of off-color comedy also delighted in his original character, Dolemite, an urban hustler that Moore eventually brought to the big screen in 1975.
Written by Scott Alexander (THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, ED WOOD) and Larry Karaszewski (BIG EYES, GOOSEBUMPS), the biopic stars Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, Mike Epps, Titus Burgess, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Keegan-Michael Key, Aleksandar Filimonovic, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Ron Cephas Jones, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Luenell.
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME marks the return of Murphy after not having starred in any major projects since playing Henry Church for director Bruce Beresford's MR. CHURCH. Written by Susan McMartin, MR. CHURCH tells the story of a unique friendship that develops when a little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook – Henry Joseph Church. What begins as a six month arrangement instead spans into fifteen years and creates a family bond that lasts forever.
Up next for Murphy after his time on the Rudy Ray Moore biopic is COMING 2 AMERICA. In the highly-anticipated sequel to the 1988 classic comedy, Murphy's Akeem learns he has a long-lost son in the United States and must return to the America to meet the unlikely heir to the throne of Zamunda.
Also on deck for Murphy is TRIPLETS, a long-gestating sequel to Ivan Reitman's 1988 comedy, TWINS, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. In the follow-up, Julius (Schwarzenegger) and Vincent Benedict (DeVito) discover they have a third sibling. I have my doubts that this movie will ever see the light of day, but in this wild and wacky world of reboots and reunion films, I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
While DOLEMITE IS MY NAME has yet to receive a concrete release date, you can be sure that we'll let you know when it's bound to groove its way onto Netflix.