Jay-Z will produce a feature film about the life of comedian Richard Pryor.
The biopic is the first project to be announced after Jay Z signed a two-year film and TV deal with The Weinstein Company last week.
Pryor, who died aged 65 in 2005, is best known for his string of hit comedies in the 70s and 80s. He was a politically outspoken figure who blazed a trail for black performers in the entertainment industry.
Press“I’m excited to tell stories from real-life prophets, whom through their struggles have changed the world for the better, and others whose stories are filled with fantasy and delight,” Jay Z said in a press release.
“Having known Jay on a personal level for many years, we are thrilled by the opportunity to expand our relationship,” said TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein. “Jay’s ability to influence entertainment and pop culture has gone well beyond music for many years. He approaches every aspect of his career with both determination and effortlessness, making him one of the leading power players in entertainment history. We already have some exceptional projects in the works and are excited to see what more is to come.”
Jay Z is currently acting as an executive producer on TIME: The Kalief Browder Story, a TV series about the young black man who was imprisoned on Riker’s Island for three years without trial and later committed suicide.
