Mike Epps Will Play Richard Pryor in Nina Simone Biopic

Zoe Saldana set to play Simone in the upcoming film.

Posted: 10/16/2012 09:00 AM EDT
Mike Epps

Another big name has joined the cast of Nina, the long-awaited biopic on Nina Simone. Mike Epps has signed on to play Richard Pryor in the film alongside Zoe Saldana in the title role and David Oyelowo as her manager Clifton Henderson

Pryor and Simone crossed paths in the 1960s, when Pryor was the opening act for the singer. Simone wrote in her autobiography that she regularly rocked Pryor, who was gripped with extreme stage fright at the time, to calm him down before he hit the stage. 

Epps was last seen in Sparkle, opposite Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston, and stars in the upcoming three-quel to The Hangover


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