I love Richard Pryor so much that it's been hard for me to imagine anybody adequately portraying the legendary comedian/actor in the planned biopic "Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?" I certainly didn't think Eddie Murphy was right for the role when he was set to play the icon awhile back. Nor did I like the idea of Mike Epps as Pryor. But I surprised myself with a very positive reaction to today's news that Marlon Wayans may star as Pryor in the film, to be written and helmed by "Dreamgirls" director Bill Condon.

Say what you will about Wayans' movie career, especially the lowbrow stuff he's co-written with brothers Keenan and Shawn ("White Chicks;" the "Scary Movie" series). The guy has shown us that he can act (in one film -- "Requiem for a Dream" -- at least), and he is great at being funny solely through facial expressions, just like Pryor was. Read more...

As the world bids farewell to Michael Jackson today, I want to take a moment here on MTV Movies Blog to look back at the pop sensation's first foray into film. Sidney Lumet's "The Wiz," released in 1978, is an urban reimagining of L. Frank Baum's literary classic, "The Wizard of Oz." The film is actually adapted from Charlie Smalls' award-winning mid-70s musical.

Diana Ross stars as Dorothy in "The Wiz," opposite Michael Jackson's brainless Scarecrow. The songs have more thump than they do in the 1939 adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" (the one starring Judy Garland) and Lumet's otherworldly "Oz" setting is clearly a fantastical reworking of New York City. I've assembled a small gallery of images here for your perusal; if you've never seen "The Wiz," I recommend sitting down with it today as we look back on Jackson's good old days. Read more...