Eddie Murphy is a bad mutha returning to the screen for the first time in three years to star in a biopic and comedy about a blaxploitation legend, Dolemite.
In “Dolemite Is My Name,” which Netflix is releasing later this year, Murphy plays the comedian and singer Rudy Ray Moore, who was inspired to branch out and develop an alter-ego he could use on stage of a foul-mouthed pimp named Dolemite. When the character’s direction couldn’t take off on stage or in a comedy album, he took Dolemite to the screen and made a series of blaxploitation movies starring his alternate persona.
“Dolemite is my name and f—in up motherf—ers is my game,” Murphy says while donning a garish suit and a silly afro wig. “It’s all pretend. I just created a character.”
The Dolemite character ended up appearing in three films, “Dolemite” from 1975, followed by “The Human Tornado” and “The Return of Dolemite.” But this new biography specifically follows the rise of Moore as he struggled to bring the Dolemite character to the screen and make something that black audiences specifically could get behind.
Craig Brewer directs the film that stars Murphy alongside Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, as well as with a special appearance by Snoop Dogg. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski penned the screenplay, and the duo received the blessing of the real Rudy Ray Moore to tell his story.
Watch the outrageous first trailer for “Dolemite Is My Name” above.