Television
RuPaul Wants Willow Smith to Play Him In a TV Biopic
Illustration by Hilton Dresden
"This is about my New York life in the '80s."
July 27 2017 12:56 PM EST
July 27 2017 8:56 AM EST
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"This is about my New York life in the '80s."
RuPaul is making a biographical TV series about his life, according to a recent interview in Page Six.The Emmy winner has had a long career in entertainment: as a musician, mostly notably for his 1992 club single "Supermodel (You Better Work);" as a TV host on The RuPaul Show and Drag Race; and now, as the creator of a dramedy series focused on his past.
"Not filmed yet. No title yet. Not cast yet. I won't play me," he explained to Page Six. "It's maybe Willow Smith."
Ru is shopping the show around to different networks. Depending on who picks it up, the show could range from half-hour to hour length episodes. The show is being produced by J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot productions, who also created Lost, and is written by Gary Lennon, who's written episodes for Orange Is The New Black and Justified.
Related | Casting Call: 10 Performers Who Could Play Young RuPaul
"This is about my New York life in the '80s," Ru continued. "Interview magazine in those days was my Bible. I grew up in San Diego wanting to be Andy Warhol. No grim storyline about white guys sniffing white powder. It's the Yellow Brick Road. Wanting to go to six different clubs every night."
Ru's been jonesing for Willow to appear as his likeness for years--back in 2011, he posted this:
\u201cYes, but only if Willow Smith played me RT @FarronElizabeth: would you ever consider doing a biopic pic of your life?\u201d— RuPaul (@RuPaul) 1305147793
No word yet from Smith's camp.