Eddie Murphy, director Craig Brewer, and the cast and writers of “Dolemite Is My Name” on the legacy of Rudy Ray Moore
More years passed. We heard talk that other people wanted to do Rudy’s story or remake “Dolemite,” but it never happened. Then we created the television miniseries “The People v. O.J. Simpson.” That show became a sensation, and we realized we had a short opportunity to maybe go sell a crazy project. Through producers John Davis and John Fox, we sent a message to Eddie, asking if he was still interested in doing Rudy.
When we write stories set in the past, it is important to us that they also reflect upon the world today. We felt “Dolemite Is My Name” could actually be about the importance of representation on screen. When Rudy and his friends watch big-budget studio movies, they don’t see anyone with whom they can relate. Even someone who’s a star to them, actor D’Urville Martin, is forced to admit that in Hollywood movies, he still has to play an elevator operator.
NetflixFilm Not a bad film but even Forrest Gump was more wild than Dolemite