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.”
As Dish previously reported, Cannon made it sound like Daniels’ flick wasn’t even a go yet when he called into our Atlanta studio last month and spoke with the Rickey Smiley Morning Show.
“This is how this game goes. That’s a project that’s been around for decades and honestly, it’s still not even green-lit at this point,” he said at the time.
“It’s certain names and certain people, if a person is gonna do it, it kind of fast tracks the project but now it’s kind of at a stalemate because even Lee Daniels hasn’t even really decided if he’s going to direct it yet.”
But since it looks like project is in fact a go, the source claims Cannon has taken matters into his own hands and he’s not going to let his training for the role go to waste.
“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.”
Source: Dish Nation
