Earlier this year, we celebrated Don Cheadle being tapped to play the Prince Of Darkness in a biopic tackling the jazz innovator’s legendary career and tumultuous personal life. But according to the New York Times article this weekend, that may have been premature. Not only have Cheadle’s people declined comment on playing Miles, but there are also competing projects racing to the screen to portray the man’s life.
First is a screenplay adapted from Miles And Me, by one of Davis’s close friends and protégés. Set to begin production next year and helmed by Rudy Langlais (The Hurricane), the film is meant to show the inner, tortured, personal Miles — the man beyond the music. Said author Quincy Troupe:
It’s about a friendship ? a hard-won friendship ? between two black men, both of them artists. Through that friendship, the film will explore Miles’s life.
The other film is the estate-authorized project for which Cheadle’s name has been dropped but not confirmed. And these aren’t the first Miles films to begin pre-production; in the late ’90s, Wesley Snipes was in talks to play our hero in a project that had secured the rights to the song catalog — and seemed to stall there.
Seriously, though: Cheadle vs. Snipes? No contest! But it seems like neither man is locked in, and there’s more than one slot to fill. So who tops your list to portray the heroin-addled, innovating genius?
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jude law. he’s in every other movie. why not this one?
Sam Jackson. Jeffrey Wright. Chiwetel Ejiofor.
dave chapelle
scarlett?!!
wanda sykes
mos def
Isn’t snipes being locked up?
i think snipes would actually be better than cheadle. snipes is fucking bitter and angry. he’s got a huge chip on his shoulder. he’s one mean muthafucker now.. just like miles was. anyone but jamie fox or will smith. cheadle would look more the part though for sure. snipes would have to lose a ton of weight.
Snipes is an irritating a-hole on-screen, which makes him perfect to play Miles, an irritating a-hole of legendary proportions, not to mention the most overrated jazz musician of all time. I’ve said it before, but he’s the Eric Clapton of jazz.
Shave Terrance Howard’s moustache and there you have it.
Shave Terrance Howard’s moustache and there you have it.
DL Hughley
phillip seymour hoffman
Angelina Jolie is in every other movie, so why not?
ryan adams
Honestly, after Mos Def being mentioned, that doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. But maybe he’s not enough of an a-hole.
princess di
too soon?
jesus, what is it with so many jazz and rock musicians and heroin?
I hope I never find out. And I hope whatever the movie is, it covers more than just the addiction issues–not interested in a jazzier version of “Ray”.
Oh, and I vote for Snoop!
Here’s the Miles Davis 2nd great quintet dream cast:
Miles Davis: Don Cheadle
Herbie Hancock: Harry J. Lennix
Wayne Shorter: Terrence Howard
Ron Carter: Andre 3000
Tony Williams: Larenz Tate
With cameos by:
Bill Evans: Tobey Maguire
John Coltrane: Denzel Washington
Charlie Parker: Forest Whitaker
Can’t think of any others…
i’m with the dave chappelle comment
Here’s the Miles Davis 2nd great quintet dream cast:
Miles Davis: Don Cheadle
Herbie Hancock: Harry J. Lennix
Wayne Shorter: Terrence Howard
Ron Carter: Andre 3000
Tony Williams: Larenz Tate
With cameos by:
Bill Evans: Tobey Maguire
John Coltrane: Denzel Washington
Charlie Parker: Forest Whitaker
Can’t think of any others…
Sasha Baron Cohen as Borat as Miles or the butterscotch stallion owen wilson.
Here’s the Miles Davis 2nd great quintet dream cast:
Miles Davis: Don Cheadle
Herbie Hancock: Harry J. Lennix
Wayne Shorter: Terrence Howard
Ron Carter: Andre 3000
Tony Williams: Larenz Tate
With cameos by:
Bill Evans: Tobey Maguire
John Coltrane: Denzel Washington
Charlie Parker: Forest Whitaker
Can’t think of any others…
Laurence Fishburne played ike turner, which in my mind qualifies him, even if he is 45. Maybe michael clarke duncan too? Will we get to see the infamous prince sessions in the movie, b/c that would be cool, and I’d love to see who plays prince?
Snipes is under the gun for a ton of tax evasion, I doubt he’ll be doing much of anything for the time being…
ouch! the eric clapton of jazz? that’s a beat down! eric clapton is pretty near the bottom of my list. miles is like the jay-z of jazz.
ouch! the eric clapton of jazz? that’s a beat down! eric clapton is pretty near the bottom of my list. miles is like the jay-z of jazz.
I think Cheadle would be amazing. He’s amazing at everything.
that said, the Mos Def suggestion is an interesting one, too.
Chuck Norris.
Jed2 is the Eric Clapton of commenting.
Michael Richards.
whatever, yeah, Miles Davis made some good music before the mid-60s, but then he went and invented fusion. Thanks, asshole.
Seriously, though, the guy was as much about intimidation and image as he was about playing the trumpet, which he wasn’t even all that amazing at- which he admitted to some people himself. He couldn’t get within a mile of Dizzy Gillespie without looking like a halfwit on the trumpet.
Moreoever, the indie rock obsession with the guy is the height of insincerety. I’m not saying that people don’t legitimately enjoy him, but I feel like it’s just a token a lot of the time.
Actually, for a long time I’ve thought Omar Epps would be perfect as Miles.
Actually, for a long time I’ve thought Omar Epps would be perfect as Miles.
but jed! the phrasing! the empty space! he was way more subtle and wobbly than dizzy’s spew of squealing 8th notes.
although, i grant you – his 80s stuff is garbage. and fusion is a little offensive. but his fusion, if you ignore “on the corner”, was edgier than the rest. were as winton & co. kinda got a little softserved.
Dave Chappelle
Anthony Mosely (AB)worked on producing and performing on Miles Davis last
album.Anthony Mosely has great stories about Mr.Miles Davis
email Platinumicetom@aol.com
Miles Davis final studio project, Doo Bop, found him collaborating with Brooklyn rappers (AB)Anthony Mosely and Easy Mo Bee on a synthesis of hip-hop, doo-wop and be-bop.
Unsurprisingly, he was still forging new connections and avenues of expression until the very end of his life.
http://www.platinumicerecords.com/pirhomepage.html
The Guy in the first Predator movie that always sucked Lolipops. There is also John abised who played the African gang leader in the series Oz, he would make a mean Miles Davis!
Denzel Washington for Sly Stone! Now there is a great biopic idea! Chris Tucker as Miles bassist Micheal Henderson!
im speachless
aaaah…
Denzel as Sly Stone it’s totally a glaring casting decision…
The seventies in particular will probably take up most of the film’s three hours for drama alone…
Muppetts. Or CGI. Or how about lets not make ( or see) this dumb ass movie and someone spend some time and money on a SERIOUS documentary on Miles? And Duke… and Mr Armstrong.
The film(s) will suck just like RAY and WALK THE LINE etc. done simply to add cash to the family’s coffers.
Think about The Doors and what a sham that was.
WESLEY SNIPES, WOULD STEAL THE ROLE SINCE HE STOLE THE MOVIE IDEA TO MAKE MARV WOLFEMAN & GENE COLAN COMIC BOOK “BLADE” INTO A MOTION PICTURE FROM AFRICAN AMERICAN CARTOONIST, KEN WILLIS WITH OUT PAYING HIM ONE RED CENT OR A SIMPLE THANK YOU FOR CASTING & HAND-PICKING HIM FOR THE ROLE OF “BLADE,” GREATEST MOVIE ROLE OF HIS ACTING CAREER. CHECK IT OUT! http://WWW.BLACKVOICES.COM BLOGS
Wesley Snipes, would be great for the role since he stole the movie idea to make Marv Wolfeman & Gene Colan comic book “Blade” from African American, Cartoonist Ken Willis. Check it out! http://www.blackvoices.com blogs
Coltrane: Denzel Washington Miles: Eddie Griffin
Meryl Streep, hands down.