Kenya Barris Will Direct Upcoming Richard Pryor Film

Kenya Barris, Richard Pryor

Kenya Barris Will Direct Upcoming Richard Pryor Film

Kenya Barris has inked his latest project!

The creator and executive producer of “Black-ish” is set to direct a biopic about late comedic icon Richard Pryor. 

Along with directing the project, which MGM has acquired the worldwide rights for, Kenya Barris will also write and produce it via his company Khalabo Ink Society.

Richard Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor, and her company Tarnished Angel will also produce the film with Tory Metzger of Levantine Films. Adam Rosenberg will be the executive producer.

Kenya Barris said in a statement:

“The way Pryor did what he did — with truth and specificity that was somehow self-aware and self-deprecating, and said with an unmatched level of vulnerability — that was the power and impact of his work. Pryor had a voice that was distinctly his and, in many ways, comedy since then has been derivative of what he created. To me, this is a film about that voice, the journey that shaped it, and what it took for it to come to be.”

During his career, Richard Pryor appeared in more than 50 movies, and starred in “The Richard Pryor Show” and ‘Pryor’s Place.” He also served as a writer for the classic series “Sanford and Sons.”

Jennifer Lee Pryor said of the upcoming project:

“Having had a front row seat to much of Richard’s life, I am excited that the mystery of his genius is finally going to be explored and Kenya Barris is the perfect person to do it. Richard and Kenya are creative brothers.”

MGM film group president Pamela Adby and MGM film group chairman Michael De Luca released a joint statement:

“The NY Times has said of Richard Pryor, he was an ‘iconoclastic standup comedian who transcended barriers of race and brought a biting, irreverent humor into America’s living rooms, movie houses, clubs and concert halls.’ We couldn’t agree more. Along with our partners Kenya, Tory, Jennifer and Adam, we are incredibly excited to share Richard’s extraordinary life with audiences the world over.”

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