Kid Cudi is taking on one of the most iconic figures in modern art. The rapper and actor announced Wednesday that he’ll write, direct, and star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in a new film titled“Jean,”with production set to begin in 2027. He shared the news on Instagram alongside a first-look photo of himself in character, rocking Basquiat’s signature hairstyle.
According to Cudi, the film has been a long time coming. After years of watching outside Basquiat projects fall apart, he decided to write the script himself, diving into research and speaking with people who knew the artist. He described the movie as“a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city,”and the passion behind the project is hard to miss.
Basquiat rose to fame in the 1980s New York art scene before his death at age 27 in 1988, and his legacy still looms large in art and pop culture. Now the question is: who else is hyped to see Cudi’s take on this story? Are you here for the Basquiat biopic, or do you need to see more first?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.