(AllHipHop News) Entertainment icon Eddie Murphy is already getting award-season buzz for his portrayal of Rudy Ray Moore in Netflix’s Dolemite Is My Name. Veteran filmmaker Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Empire) was in the director’s chair for Dolemite Is My Name, and he recently talked about working with Murphy for the Blaxploitation-era biopic.
“On Dolemite, we found our turf. He’s got a process and I really believe in arming actors and actresses with whatever they need for their process,” says Brewer about Murphy. “I’m making their movie with them. They don’t have to bend into my ways or will.”
The filmmaker adds, “After Dolemite, there was some trust. Not only is he one of our few true movie stars that we have left, but he’s a tremendously gifted actor. I think because he deals in comedy, people don’t recognize that.”
Dolemite Is My Name is not only being viewed by some movie buffs as a comeback vehicle for Eddie Murphy, but it could also serve as a return to the mainstream for Wesley Snipes. The acting legend known for motion pictures such as New Jack City, White Men Can’t Jump, and Blade has a supporting role in the R-Rated feature.
Brewer professes, “After working with [Snipes] on Dolemite Is My Name – the first time we met for dinner it was really like it was two guys that I think felt like we needed to work together.”
Murphy, Snipes, and Brewer are also reuniting for the upcoming sequel to the classic 1998 comedy Coming To America. Eddie Murphy is once again taking on the role of Zamunda’s Prince Akeem Joffer with Wesley Snipes playing the new character General Izzi. The Coming 2 America cast also includes Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Kiki Layne, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Teyana Taylor, Rick Ross, and James Earl Jones.
Craig Brewer’s Dolemite Is My Name starring Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes is now available for streaming on Netflix. Keegan-Michael Key, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Snoop Dogg, Ron Cephas Jones, Barry Shabaka Henley, Tip ‘TI” Harris, Luenell, and Tasha Smith make appearances in the movie as well. Plus, the costumes were designed by Academy Award winner Ruth E. Carter (Black Panther).