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Nick Cannon refuses to lose in this Richard Pryor role…
After being snubbed in favor of Mike Epps for the role of Richard Pryor — despite nearly a year of campaigning for the gig — Nick Cannon has decided to take matters into his own rich and highly-connected hands to make his own version of the famous comic’s life story. Via DishNation:
Nick Cannon wants to be Richard Pryor so bad — and Dish Nation has exclusively learned how he’s going to get it!
The America’s Got Talent host was snubbed by director Lee Daniels and executive producer Oprah Winfrey for a feature film biopic about the late comedian in favor of Mike Epps for the role.
But that hasn’t deterred Cannon, 34, who is now pitching his own TV special based on the life of the funnyman, and NBC are said to be very interested.
“Nick was devastated when he found out that he didn’t get the part in Lee Daniels’ new movie,” a source told Dish Nation.
“It’s been Nick’s dream to play Richard Pryor in a movie because he was his inspiration growing up. So when Mike Epps got the part, he may have been down but he certainly wasn’t out.”
“Nick decided that he was going to create his own Pryor tribute — and has even written a proposal for a TV special. He couldn’t wait to tell executives at NBC his plans, and they immediately set up a meeting with him to hear his idea,” the insider continued.
“NBC believes that Nick has exactly the right kind of persona to play Richard and they believe it would pull in TV audiences thanks to his popularity on America’s Got Talent.”
Despite a recent split with his wife of six years, Mariah Carey, Cannon has maintained a stellar reputation and works hard in several gigs to earn his estimated $20 million empire.
“Nick is absolutely stoked that they are taking his pitch seriously, and wants to be a better Richard Pryor than Mike Epps,” the source told Dish.
“As he sees it, it’s his destiny and he’s really excited that he might get to live out his fantasy.”
Hmmmm, well NBC was pretty good for made-for-TV music bios once upon a time (The Temptations, anyone?) so this might not be half bad. What do you think Bossip fam? Is Nick’s method of taking matters into his own hands some petty mess or just a good way to make his own dreams come true?
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Carlesha Freeland Gaither is home safe tonight.
