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Spike Lee Plots James Brown Biopic Starring Wesley Snipes

1/27/09, 9:15 am EST

Photo: Vespa/Wireimage (Snipes, Corio/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty (Brown)

Director Spike Lee has reiterated his desire to make a James Brown biopic, with Wesley Snipes handling the role of the Godfather of Soul. “We’re doing it together, it’s going to happen,” Lee told MTV News at the Sundance Film Festival; the director first announced his intentions the day after Brown’s death. Like the Ray Charles biopic Ray, the Brown film will feature the singer’s voice dubbed over Snipes’ pipes when the songs kick in. “I want to hear James Brown’s voice. That’s just my personal taste,” the Do The Right Thing director said. “I know Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line, he did some of the singing. I’m a purist.” (And we all know what happened when Phoenix’s taste of playing a rocker led to a new career in the music industry.)

Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison in April 2008 after he was convicted of federal income tax evasion, so while the actor remains free while awaiting an appeal, Lee will need to rush in order to get this film made with Snipes in the lead role. We were kind of leery about whether Snipes still had the ability to take on such a high-profile performance, especially considering how his last six films were Direct-to-DVD, by-the-books action movies filmed in Europe while he was in exile from the U.S. But then we remembered Snipes’ turns in Major League and White Men Can’t Jump and felt better about the casting choice.

Lee and Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to the Brown biopic shortly after the singer died in 2006 of heart failure. Snipes signed on for the role in 2007. Lee has his hands full in 2009, with a planned Inside Man sequel and a Michael Jordan documentary also in the works.

Related Stories:

• James Brown: Funk’s Founding Father (1933-2006)
• James Brown: The Photos
• One Stage Packed With Nutty Soul Greatness: Prince and Michael Jackson Join James Brown

Daniel Kreps

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Comments

I feel good | 1/27/2009, 9:44 am EST

It’s James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party! And now, here he is – the Godfather of Soul, and hot tub man number one – James Brown!

Sometimes it make me break out in a cold sweat!
One two three four!

Hot tub! Ha! Da!
Ah, full of water!
I say hot tub! Ha!
Day! Ba! Very, very hot. Very hot! Da!
Hot tub! Gonna get ya hot-a!
Gonna make ya sweat! Hey! Say!
Hot tub! Rub a dub in the hot tub!
Rub a dub with me!

Should I get in the hot tub?
(Yeah!) Will it make me sweat?
(Yeah!) Should I get in the hot tub?
(Yeah!) Will it make me wet?
(Yeah!) Well, well, well..

Hot tub! Ah!
Get in!
Gonna get in the water!
Gonna make me sweat! Ah!
Here I go in the hot tub!

Hhhhhiiiigggghhhh!!!

To o hot in the hot tub! Ma!
Burn myself!
Make it cooler!
Good God!
Gonna make me..

I’m gonna get in the hot tub..
I’m gonna get in the hot tub..
I’m gonna get in the hot tub..
Ha! Lilin! Lidilin! Eh!
A gonna make me sweat-ah!
Dah! Gonna make me sweat!
Gonna make me sweat-ah!
Dah! Gonna get me in the hot tub!
I can’t stand it!
Here I go! I can’t stand it!

Here I go in the hot tub!
Gonna get in the hot tub!
Gonna get it wet-ah!
Good God!
Hhhiiigggghhhhh!!! Ha!
Good God!
Rub a dub!
In the hot tub!
Rub a dub with me!
Good God!
Rub a dub in the hot tub!
Gonna set me free!”

Don’t go away, we’ll be right back with more “Celebrity Hot Tub!”

Kevin the Robot | 1/27/2009, 11:47 am EST

So Wesley Snipes isn’t going to jail for tax evasion, he’s going to jail to research his role.

Eubey | 1/27/2009, 12:35 pm EST

Why doesn’t Spike hire Eddie Murphy? I guess he has never watched Saturday Night Live!

G-up | 1/27/2009, 12:49 pm EST

eubey, because eddie murphy is a joke

Anonymous | 1/27/2009, 2:02 pm EST

Eddie Murphy is not a joke, but he makes lousy decisions on film roles, since about 1990.

His role in Dreamgirls was excellent though.

JBfan | 1/27/2009, 2:04 pm EST

NO!!!! I agree with Spike Lee as director – but Wesley Snipes is too old to play this part! I would cast 50 Cent, as he did ok in “Righteous Kill” and has the same life experiences as James Brown – plus I think he would get more butts in the theater.
This movie could be EPIC in the right hands. JB grew up in a whorehouse, went to jail as a teen, started a band t=right out of prison, and then ran the first Black owned everything.
Wesley Snipes is the WRONG choice for this role. Go with 50 Cent or an unknown.

Kang | 1/27/2009, 5:57 pm EST

What happened to snipes going to jail for 5 years?

DAILY | 1/27/2009, 6:41 pm EST

50 Cent should not play James Brown.
That is absurd.
Snipes could do well..

Anonymous | 1/27/2009, 7:42 pm EST

Kang, why not take the time to actually read the story?

“Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison in April 2008 after he was convicted of federal income tax evasion, so while the actor remains free while awaiting an appeal, Lee will need to rush in order to get this film made with Snipes in the lead role. “

lmvalle | 1/27/2009, 8:10 pm EST

JB fan, I’m sorry but casting 50 Cent as James Brown is as disastrous as casting Jamie Foxx as Tookie Williams, (which actually happened, with disastrous results).

Snipes just needs to quit playing with Uncle Sam and get his shit together. If Eddie wasn’t screwing himself in the ass with these horrible roles he might have been a good contender; I really hope Snipes does the King of Soul justice.

Jon G. | 1/27/2009, 8:53 pm EST

Wesley MAY be too old – I’m just as concerned about Spike’s directing! He’s done a few films that I find good from start to finish (Malcolm X, 25th Hour)… and he’s also made flicks with MA-jor flaws (most of the rest). Everyone involved needs to do the Godfather justice.

Alan | 1/29/2009, 10:02 pm EST

I think that WS is a great choice. He is the only Black star that has the physical stamina and comanding force. One could see Ws fininf his band for missed notes.

If WS can’t do it. Then Denzels partner in the movie Inside Man Chitowel Ejofar would make a great JB.

chris | 2/1/2009, 8:17 pm EST

spike should ask al sharpton who should play JB

Augusta GEE-AYY | 3/23/2009, 7:14 pm EST

Wesley would be cool being JB….from when the Godfather of Soul was 40 years old (1973 on) until the his death at the age of 73 (2006).
Whose gonna play the young JB? Spike needs to find that cat from of Chicago (cant remember his name) who did a JB routine in the 2nd season of American Idol to play JB from when he was in prison as a teenager to JB in his 30s (Say It Loud, Mother Popcorn, etc.) whom Paula Abdul fought Simon and Randy tooth and nail to let him in. She called his routine original.

ka | 7/25/2009, 8:37 pm EST

whoever they decide 2 play mr. brown add mr. tony wilson 2 it

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