Universal thinking of Def Jam Biopic with Michael B and and Jonah Hill

[Uncle_Ruckus]

Who else would you rather play him though?

Anyone that is actually a part of the hip-hop culture. Jonah is as close to a "wigger" as you can get. Rick Rubin needs to be played by someone that actually has some real life similarities besides the chubby white factor. He can't be the only person out there. I would personally cast Joaquin Phoenix.

Definitely. He's great when he can bounce off of someone. The funny thing about it tho, is that Miles Teller has that young Rick Rubin vibe and I'd love to see him and Michael bounce off each other

Miles Teller as Rubin breh? The white dude from Whiplash? You gotta be kidding me. They look and act nothing alike.

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

Anyone that is actually a part of the hip-hop culture. Jonah is as close to a "wigger" as you can get. Rick Rubin needs to be played by someone that actually has some real life similarities besides the chubby white factor. He can't be the only person out there. I would personally cast Joaquin Phoenix.
.

I appreciate the sentiment, but I highly doubt you'll get that level of commitment to the culture from a major studio.

And besides - Jonah is an actor - he gets paid to convince people that he is what he's not.

On top of that, Michael B Jordan and Jonah are in the same age bracket, which is pretty much a must for the story and building the right chemistry between them.

Joaquin is cool - but he's almost 12 years older than MBJ.

 

[MartyMcFly]

Anyone that is actually a part of the hip-hop culture. Jonah is as close to a "wigger" as you can get. Rick Rubin needs to be played by someone that actually has some real life similarities besides the chubby white factor. He can't be the only person out there. I would personally cast Joaquin Phoenix.

Miles Teller as Rubin breh? The white dude from Whiplash? You gotta be kidding me. They look and act nothing alike.

You don't pick someone based on them "acting" like the subject because they're actors; rarely do any of them act like the subjects, that's their job breh. I'm going on the strength of the chemistry he and Michael have together and I can see them both playing well off of each other in those roles

 

[Bless't]

All this yo-yo dieting is going to give poor Jonah a god damn Coronary.

Rick was no where near this fat.

 

[Uncle_Ruckus]

You don't pick someone based on them "acting" like the subject because they're actors; rarely do any of them act like the subjects, that's their job breh. I'm going on the strength of the chemistry he and Michael have together and I can see them both playing well off of each other in those roles

It's a biopic, so of course you do. Straight Outta Compton worked so well cause them actors came from that culture. You get hollywood actors to play Russell and Rick, you might as well get Wesley Snipes to play DMX cause none of that shyt is gonna come off as genuine as SOC with the realism them actors brought to the screen. Agree to disagree.

 

[Uncle_Ruckus]

Joaquin is cool - but he's almost 12 years older than MBJ.

Wouldn't be the first time an older actor played a younger character. And get someone else to play Russell. Michael B Jordan is overrated af and I just can't see him playing Russell.

 

[MartyMcFly]

It's a biopic, so of course you do. Straight Outta Compton worked so well cause them actors came from that culture. You get hollywood actors to play Russell and Rick, you might as well get Wesley Snipes to play DMX cause none of that shyt is gonna come off as genuine as SOC with the realism them actors brought to the screen. Agree to disagree.

But again how do we know miles teller background as far as the music he loves or doesn't love? Neither one of these cats came from 80s culture and I know the guy who played dre didn't come from Cali culture because he's from my part of the country in dc and dc culture and hip hop culture is so different from Cali culture. It may as well be two different worlds. BUT as a trained actor who graduated from Howard university, he was able to blend in and seem authentic as Dre even though he grew up in completely different circumstances.

Tom hiddleston is about to play hank Williams and looks to do a great job at it but his background and Williams' background couldn't be more different. But he's an actor. He researches, he studies, he does everything you need to for a good performance. Michael B at this point is a Hollywood actor breh but he's also one of the best young actors around. No one should be mad at him if he's Russell

 

[Uncle_Ruckus]

But again how do we know miles teller background as far as the music he loves or doesn't love? Neither one of these cats came from 80s culture and I know the guy who played dre didn't come from Cali culture because he's from my part of the country in dc and dc culture and hip hop culture is so different from Cali culture. It may as well be two different worlds. BUT as a trained actor who graduated from Howard university, he was able to blend in and seem authentic as Dre even though he grew up in completely different circumstances

Prolly why Dre was portrayed the worst in that movie. Dude was not a believable Dr. Dre or tough guy at all. Ice Cube's son though, who's from the culture, nailed it. Miles Teller looks so far from a hip-hop dude it's not even funny. He should have played Mark Zucerkburg in The Social Network. Again though, this is a biopic so of cource they are gonna want to get some people that actually live the culture not just random hollywood name actors. Do I gotta list off a bunch of biopics as examples. Would Jamie Foxx have gotten the ray role if he didn't look like Ray and have a singing career of his own? Dreamgirls got Beyonce. That Hendrix movie they got Andre 3000 for. The Aaliyah story that took so long to find a suitable Aaliyah.

 

[MartyMcFly]

Prolly why Dre was portrayed the worst in that movie. Dude was not a believable Dr. Dre or tough guy at all. Ice Cube's son though, who's from the culture, nailed it. Miles Teller looks so far from a hip-hop dude it's not even funny. He should have played Mark Zucerkburg in The Social Network. Again though, this is a biopic so of cource they want to get some people that actually live the culture no just random actors. Do I gotta list off a bunch of biopics as an example?

You could but off the top of my head outside of Jamie in Ray I can't think of a guy who's lived at least a bit of that life he's portraying on film. So help me out since I'm sure I'm glossing over a few examples. To me though, it's the job of the actor to do the work and part of that is burying yourself in whatever it is. Based on your logic some of the greatest films of all time would've never existed if we're going with the idea that you gotta be in that culture to get it.

And I don't think there was anything wrong with his performance I think he was underwritten. But part of the trade off for casting unknowns in that movie rather than name actors was dre and cube being willing to do the promo for it. And they helped sell the movie

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

Wouldn't be the first time an older actor played a younger character. And get someone else to play Russell. Michael B Jordan is overrated af and I just can't see him playing Russell.

I get that you like Joaquin for the role. That's whatever, but IMO He can't lay anymore of a claim to authenticity than Jonah Hill can.

As for Michael B Jordan. Again - he's an actor. It's his job to portray characters that may not share his background.

 

[Uncle_Ruckus]

You could but off the top of my head outside of Jamie in Ray I can't think of a guy who's lived at least a bit of that life he's portraying on film. So help me out since I'm sure I'm glossing over a few examples. To me though, it's the job of the actor to do the work and part of that is burying yourself in whatever it is. Based on your logic some of the greatest films of all time would've never existed if we're going with the idea that you gotta be in that culture to get it.

And I don't think there was anything wrong with his performance I think he was underwritten. But part of the trade off for casting unknowns in that movie rather than name actors was dre and cube being willing to do the promo for it. And they helped sell the movie

Naw, you think I'm speaking on every biopic ever. I'm referring to the success of SOC and how this movie could follow in that same light if they get the actors portraying the people right. SOC got most of it perfect which is why it did so well. Hip-Hop biopics you gotta get right cause there are really not many out there and the ones done right are even fewer. And I posted some examples.

 

[Uncle_Ruckus]

I get that you like Joaquin for the role. That's whatever, but IMO He can't lay anymore of a claim to authenticity than Jonah Hill can.

As for Michael B Jordan. Again - he's an actor. It's his job to portray characters that may not share his background.

Just my opinion breh. Not saying they won't do a good job, cuase Jonah suprised everyone in WOWS, but they are far from my first picks or who I can picutre playing those iconic roles. I'd honestly rather see 2 no name actors than those 2. Like the director for SOC said, when you get big name actors to play these hip-hop movies, it takes away from the realism and keep reminding the viewer its a biopic. SOC made me feel like I was actually watching cube and easy on screen cause those actors I've never seen before. Get it?

 

[MartyMcFly]

Naw, you think I'm speaking on every biopic ever. I'm referring to the success of SOC and how this movie could follow in that same light if they get the actors portraying the people right. SOC got most of it perfect which is why it did so well. Hip-Hop biopics you gotta get right cause there are really not many out there and the ones done right are even fewer. And I posted some examples.

Prolly why Dre was portrayed the worst in that movie. Dude was not a believable Dr. Dre or tough guy at all. Ice Cube's son though, who's from the culture, nailed it. Miles Teller looks so far from a hip-hop dude it's not even funny. He should have played Mark Zucerkburg in The Social Network. Again though, this is a biopic so of cource they are gonna want to get some people that actually live the culture not just random hollywood name actors. Do I gotta list off a bunch of biopics as examples. Would Jamie Foxx have gotten the ray role if he didn't look like Ray and have a singing career of his own? Dreamgirls got Beyonce. That Hendrix movie they got Andre 3000 for. The Aaliyah story that took so long to find a suitable Aaliyah.

That Hendrix flick with Andre was meh. The best ones have had good actors on them first and foremost tho. Walk the line being a great music biopic. I don't think for music they need to be knee deep in the culture for real. Just know the history know the subject and dive in. It's their jobs to act. It's easier with straight outta Compton because they were unknowns so you as a viewer could just see ice cube or eazy or dre. It's the same logic studios use with comic book movies or even James Bond: we go with an unknown so the audience just sees this character not the actor. I won't disagree with you that it's a great plus to have a person who's involved with the culture in one way or another but I just don't think it's necessary. Michael and whomever whether it's Jonah or miles would just be playing college kids who love hip hop and become execs. But Rick Rubin didn't just love hip hop he loved music. He wasn't just a head he was a a guy who loved every genre of music and was a punk college kid with a rebellious streak. Russell loved hip hop but loved the business side of it. He wasn't trying to be a musician.

 

[Uncle_Ruckus]

That Hendrix flick with Andre was meh. The best ones have had good actors on them first and foremost tho. Walk the line being a great music biopic. I don't think for music they need to be knee deep in the culture for real. Just know the history know the subject and dive in. It's their jobs to act. It's easier with straight outta Compton because they were unknowns so you as a viewer could just see ice cube or eazy or dre. It's the same logic studios use with comic book movies or even James Bond: we go with an unknown so the audience just sees this character not the actor. I won't disagree with you that it's a great plus to have a person who's involved with the culture in one way or another but I just don't think it's necessary. Michael and whomever whether it's Jonah or miles would just be playing college kids who love hip hop and become execs. But Rick Rubin didn't just love hip hop he loved music. He wasn't just a head he was a a guy who loved every genre of music and was a punk college kid with a rebellious streak. Russell loved hip hop but loved the business side of it. He wasn't trying to be a musician.

Fair enough.

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

Just my opinion breh. Not saying they won't do a good job, cuase Jonah suprised everyone in WOWS, but they are far from my first picks or who I can picutre playing those iconic roles. I'd honestly rather see 2 no name actors than those 2. Like the director for SOC said, when you get big name actors to play these hip-hop movies, it takes away from the realism and keep reminding the viewer its a biopic. SOC made me feel like I was actually watching cube and easy on screen cause those actors I've never seen before. Get it?

I can dig that and I agree that the stakes are high, when it comes to doing these movies right. I thought the Eazy actor was the best thing about the movie, but then again, I don't know if I could point out a famous actor who would have been a good Eazy.

The names on the marquee will give them a shot with certain demographics, for sure - and I think both of them are dope actors in their own right. I can definitely see Jonah Hill with the wig drinking Brass Monkey with the Beastie Boys and Michael B. Jordan smoking dust and partying with Madonna in 80's NY. We don't know what lengths they'll go to for the role. The potential of this film could be I think a lot of how good the film is might come down to the director too. Then you're getting into whether it's told more as a New York story or a Hip-Hop story....



Look at the Don Cheadle Miles Davis biopic - he started learning to play the trumpet 3 years ago for the film because he had passion for the role. I don't think I could cast a better Miles, personally, but you're not always going to get that perfect fit.