Eddie Murphy to Play Rudy Ray Moore in ‘Dolemite is My Name’ for Netflix

Any fan of 70s Blaxploitation cinema can tell you that Rudy Ray Moore is among the strangest, most singular talents that ever graced the silver screen. Blessed with a penchant for clever turns of phrase, Moore's Dolemite films are among the worst films produced within the genre thanks to their woefully limited budgets. However, they are also among the best to enjoy with a group of friends and a couple of beers.

The story behind Rudy Ray Moore's insane rise to fame is now going to be the subject of a film starring Eddie Murphy as the Dolemite star. Directed by Hustle & Flow's Craig Brewer and written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the guys behind—among other things—Ed Wood, The People vs Larry Flynt, and The People vs. OJ Simpson.

Dolemite is My Name promises to be something of a comeback for Murphy who hasn't had a hit in over a decade, and hasn't even appeared in a film since 2016's Mr. Church, which absolutely no one saw. For my money, this is the perfect marriage of actor and subject, and when you throw in Alexander and Karaszewski's normally slanted look at the world through the eyes of a misanthrope, you've got a recipe for something special. Brewer would be my only reservation, if only because he's the guy who directed the Footloose remake no one asked for or wanted.

To clarify, I love Dolemite and its three sequels, especially Disco Godfather, ironically. There's no other way to enjoy them. Much like Ed Wood's films, which leads me to believe this might be something to write home about. Fingers crossed it all comes together.

[h/t Deadline]