Barry Michael Cooper, the acclaimed screenwriter behind New Jack Metropolis, as soon as revealed a tremendous reality in regards to the movie’s casting that few followers of the cult traditional could know.
Talking with AllHipHop.com in 2007, Cooper disclosed that Martin Lawrence had initially secured the function of Pookie, the tragic addict memorably portrayed by Chris Rock, just for destiny to intervene in a method nobody might have foreseen.
“The unique Pookie was not Chris Rock, it was Martin Lawrence,” Cooper mentioned. “Martin Lawrence got here in and auditioned and tore all people up. The man filming it needed to cease; he killed it. He had the function.”
Lawrence’s audition, based on Cooper, was nothing in need of dazzling. However simply as he appeared poised to convey his uncooked power to the massive display screen, private tragedy struck.
In 1990, Lawrence’s mentor and comedian icon, Robin Harris, handed away as a consequence of problems from sleep apnea and coronary heart illness. The loss, Cooper defined, despatched Lawrence right into a downward emotional spiral.
“When his mentor Robin Harris died from sleep apnea, I don’t know if it’s true or not, however legend has it that Martin Lawrence had a nervous breakdown,” Cooper recounted.
The sudden change in circumstances led to a heartbreaking determination: Lawrence needed to step away from the mission.
This surprising flip opened the door for Chris Rock, however touchdown the function wasn’t a easy journey for the rising comic. In line with Cooper, Rock’s first audition didn’t precisely mild up the room.
“Chris Rock truly gave a horrible audition; he’s recognized to not give good auditions,” Cooper admitted.
Regardless of the underwhelming begin, Chris Rock finally proved his value when filming started. Cooper recalled the pivotal first day on set, a scene that featured Rock and rapper-turned-actor Ice-T.
“The primary day of taking pictures was on Woodcrest and 166th Road, the place it’s him and Ice-T making the drug transactions, saying ‘The Lord’s Prayer,’” Cooper mentioned. “Chris killed it. He and Wesley [Snipes] might have been nominated! After he did that scene, Mario [Van Peebles] and I applauded.”
Past his comedic brilliance, Cooper acknowledged Rock’s depth as an actor and predicted nice issues for his future.
“He’s a superb comic and social commentator, however as an actor – give Chris Rock that script, and he’ll get it – he’s gonna get an Oscar earlier than it’s all mentioned and executed,” Cooper remarked.
Barry Michael Cooper, who handed away on January 21 in Baltimore at age 66, left behind a permanent legacy of storytelling that formed Hip-Hop cinema and impressed numerous creators.
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