Wayans hopeful regarding Pryor role

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Marlon Wayans says portraying comedian Richard Pryor in an upcoming film will give him a chance to showcase his dramatic acting skills.

Wayans, who has appeared in films such as "G.I. Joe" and "Little Man," compared his role in "Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?" to an attempt at reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

"This is like an invitation to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for me, and I've never been more

excited in my life than when I got the role," Wayans, 37, said. "I want to be in dramas, I want to produce, I want to write and I want to prove I can handle a role such as this one."

Actor-comedian Eddie Murphy was previously considered for the role of Pryor, who died in 2005, but Murphy and the film's creators parted ways due to creative differences.

Murphy's publicist, Arnold Robinson, told the Times that Murphy fully supports the choice of Wayans to fulfill the role.

"Eddie thinks Marlon will be wonderful in the role and he's given his blessing for Marlon to do it," Robinson said of "Pryor," which is expected to begin filming this fall.