Kid Cudi says he will write, direct and star in Basquiat film Jean
The musician announced the project on Instagram on 21 October and said he plans to begin filming in 2027.
Kid Cudi announced on Instagram on 21 October that he will write, direct and star in Jean, a film about artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Cudi said he plans to begin filming in 2027. Deadline and Consequence reported the announcement.
Cudi said people had asked him for years about playing Basquiat, but no project had come together. This year, he decided to write it himself. The announced film would put him in the lead role while also making him responsible for its script and direction.
Cudi’s plans for Jean
Describing his approach, Cudi called the film a ‘love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city’. He said Basquiat had inspired him throughout his career and that telling the artist’s story would be an honour. According to Consequence, Cudi said he had researched Basquiat through books and conversations with people who knew him.
Cudi shared an early version of his appearance for the role. Consequence reported that he had done a wardrobe test and had a wig made, but said the look was a rough preview rather than the final version. Deadline reported that images of Cudi in the Basquiat-inspired look accompanied the announcement.
Cudi’s earlier screen work
Cudi, whose name is Scott Mescudi, has acted since 2009, according to Consequence. His film appearances include X, Don’t Look Up and Happy Gilmore 2. He also created and starred in the Netflix animated musical Entergalactic, a companion to his 2022 album of the same name.
Consequence reported that Cudi announced a planned directing debut, the Netflix project Teddy, in 2022. Jean is another project he has said he intends to direct, this time centred on an artist he says has influenced his own career.
Deadline also pointed to the unreleased film The Collaboration among other screen projects about Basquiat. Cudi’s announcement sets out his own planned portrayal of the artist, with filming expected to begin in 2027.
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Sources and context
- Kid Cudi To Star & Direct In Jean-Michel Basquiat Film Next YearDeadline
- Kid Cudi to Write, Direct, and Star in Jean-Michel Basquiat Biopic JeanConsequence
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.