wanted more money

So somebody on the internet answered my question about why Eddie Murphy isn't fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing Richard Pryor. Apparently director Bill Condon wanted to keep the budget down to keep creative control and Eddie wouldn't accept a pay cut. So he's probably walking away from an Oscar just so he is free to make Norbit money and continue diluting what's left of his name's value. I tell you money is tearing the heart out of show business.

I can see the advertisement now: Marlon Wayans is Richard Pryor. . .

Uh, no, he isn't.

This makes me wonder about Condon, however. The below-the-line budget would be the same even if Eddie's fee lifted it into the danger zone. But even if he had to make his deal with the Devil to make a $70 million dollar movie instead of a $50 million dollar movie, what kind of input could the studio suits really give that could throw Condon off? He's doing a bio-pic. The suits wouldn't have as many templates to refer to as hip bio-pics to pass themselves off as knowledgeable or creative. Most life story movies are a mess, like life. Condon can only vindicate himself if his script and final film are a masterpiece. Albeit a masterpiece with the wrong actor in the lead. But the other thing that could happen is that Wayans - under years of pressure from his brothers - might be a revelation finally working with a decent script and high stakes. Not that Requiem for a Dream isn't a great script and director, but people don't think of him being in that. We think of disposable movies like Senseless and Scary Movie crap. Good luck to him, but it's a shame for Eddie that money had the last say.