In 2005, Mike Epps was cast as Pryor but the project stalled again. Epps later played Pryor in Nina (2016).
Filming was supposed to start in fall 2010, with Bill Condon as director and Marlon Wayans as Pryor, but the project stalled again.
Eddie Murphy was originally attached to play Pryor, then later attached to play Pryor's father as some time went on, but the producers decided that Murphy's fame as a stand-up comedian and movie star would be distracting to audiences and Murphy was dropped from the project altogether.
In 1995, an earlier version was in development titled "Live." Martin Scorsese was to produce and possibly direct. Damon Wayans was cast as Pryor, but the project stalled.
Walter Hill and Kasi Lemmons are among the directors who were previously attached in the earlier stages of development.