Kid Cudi to Write, Direct and Star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in Biopic 'JEAN'
Rapper and actor Kid Cudi announced he will write, direct and star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in a new film he calls 'a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NYC', with principal photography set to begin in 2027.
On Wednesday, rapper and actor Kid Cudi announced via Instagram that he will write, direct and star in "JEAN," a biopic about the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The project grew out of years of people suggesting Cudi for the role, though no suitable film ever came together — so he ultimately decided to write the screenplay himself. "This film will be a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city," he wrote. Alongside the announcement, Cudi shared wardrobe test photographs of himself as Basquiat.
Basquiat, who died in 1988 at age 27, is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. His work has soared in value over the decades; in 2017, his painting Untitled (1982) sold for a then-record $110.5 million. The most notable previous screen portrayal remains Jeffrey Wright's breakout performance in Julian Schnabel's 1996 film Basquiat.
Principal photography for Jean is slated for 2027. Grammy winner Cudi — whose full name is Scott Mescudi — is also directing Wrong Number, a horror/thriller co-starring Barbie Ferreira that he wrote and is currently shooting in Los Angeles.
