Eddie Murphy’s new Netflix film sets to tell the story of the blaxploitation character Dolemite

Eddie Murphy’s first movie for Netflix might be one of the best he’s starred in since Dreamgirls. He’s returning to the 1970s for a film based on the life and times of Rudy Ray Moore, Moore was a comedian, actor, musician producer, and all-around hustler in the entertainment world. Moore is best known for creating the iconic movie character Dolemite – an obscene, kung-fu fighting pimp. Murphy portrays Moore and his hustle to break into Hollywood by any means necessary and in the process created one of the most recognizable characters in the blaxploitation universe.

The movie, Dolemite Is My Name is directed by Hustle & Flow director Craig Brewer who is also directing Murphy’s upcoming sequel to Coming to America. Brewer said about Murphy, “I had known Eddie and he looked at Hustle & Flow and saw the same kind of themes in that movie as this was one, and he’s the one who really supported me being the director of this. We’ve established a really great, respectful working relationship. Also, I just wanted to work my ass off to see him on the big screen again doing what he does best.”

Dolemite Is My Name also starts a lot of people you’ll know such as Tituss Burgess, Craig Robinson, Mike Epps, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Keegan-Michael Key, Snoop Dogg, and Wesley Snipes. the film will be released on Netflix and theaters this fall.