Nick Cannon On Losing Richard Pryor Role To Mike Epps & Marlon Wayans : "Never Smoked Cr*ck."

TL;DR

Nick Cannon lost the Richard Pryor biopic role because director Lee Daniels felt his clean-cut image lacked the lived-in authenticity the role required.

Key Points

• 1.Nick Cannon lost the Richard Pryor biopic role due to lack of authenticity. Director Lee Daniels told him directly: 'You're a phenomenal actor but you ain't never smoked crack,' citing Cannon's youthful image despite his belief he killed the screen test.
• 2.The screen test involved Nick Cannon, Mike Epps, and Marlon Wayans competing for the role. Scenes were filmed opposite Richard Pryor's wife, with actresses including Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway rotating as chemistry partners. Cannon believes Mike Epps best embodied Pryor.
• 3.Cannon revealed he did 'Love Don't Cost a Thing' primarily for the money. He chose the film over the independent movie 'Crash' to buy his mother a house, but negotiated creative control — writing the script and even naming the film after J.Lo's hit song.
• 4.Cannon described his time touring with Dave Chappelle during his crisis period. He opened for Chappelle for months while Chappelle wrestled with leaving his show, and said witnessing Chappelle stand firm on his integrity directly influenced Cannon's own career decisions.
• 5.Cannon and the host debated Chappelle's all-time comedy greatness. Cannon placed Chappelle in the top three comedians ever — potentially above Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy — and said a Chappelle Show revival would be welcome but should be something new rather than replicating the original.