Epps Gets "Pryor" Experience In "Nina"

Mike Epps will has joined the biopic Nina says THR.

Cynthia Mort wrote the script and is directing the film, which traces Nina Simone (Zoe Saldana) rise to stardom and her relationship with her Paris-based manager Clifton Henderson (David Oyelowo)

 Epps will play comedian Richard Pryor, who used to open for Simone in the 1960s when they were both early in their career. Reportedly, Pryor’s overwhelming stage fright was calmly rocked away by the singer before performances.

Mark Burton, Ben Latham-Jones, Stuart Parr, and Barnaby Thompson are producing.

The film begins shooting this week in LA.