Kid Cudi to star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in self-written film Jean

American hip-hop artist Kid Cudi has announced that he will star as famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in Jean, a film he wrote and directed himself.

The musician made the announcement on social media, posting images of himself in character and revealing that the film will begin shooting in 2027.

"For years people have asked me about playing Jean Michel Basquiat in a film," he wrote. "But no project actually came to be. This year, I finally said fuck it, ima write it myself. Did a wardrobe test, got a wig made (this isnt the final just a rough, trust me we gon get it perfect). But I wanted to tease what we been cooking a bit."

Cudi described the writing process as a "challenge" but a "welcomed one."

"A lot of research, books, talks with people that knew him," he continued. "This film will be a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city. Jean has inspired me all through out my career, and it will be the biggest honor to tell his story in a way we haven't seen before."

The rapper has built up his acting portfolio over the years, appearing as himself in Bill & Ted Face the Music and House Party, while taking on roles in Ti West's X, Pearl and MaXXXine.

He will make his feature directorial debut with Doe, which began production in Los Angeles earlier this year, and he is also set to direct the horror thriller Wrong Number - in which he will star opposite Barbie Ferreira.

Another recent film about Basquiat was in the works from director Kwame Kwei-Armah, titled The Collaboration. It was adapted from a 2022 stage play and starred Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pop as Andy Warhol and Basquiat.

Cudi's discography is also continuing to grow, with an EP HAVE U BN 2 HEAVEN @ NITE? released in March, and an album INSANE (NITRO MEGA) in July, along with several singles such as '2 Amnesia (Notre Dame & Harry Kaze Remix)', which dropped last month.

Jean does not yet have a release date.

 

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A post shared by Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (@kidcudi)