Kid Cudi to Star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in Self-Written and Directed Film ‘Jean’

The musician made the announcement on social media, posting images of himself in character and revealing that the film will begin shooting in 2027. “For years people have asked me about playing Jean Michel Basquiat in a film,” he wrote. “But no project actually came to be. This year, I finally said fuck it, ima write it myself. Did a wardrobe test, got a wig made (this isnt the final just a rough, trust me we gon get it perfect). But I wanted to tease what we been cooking a bit.”

Cudi opened up about the process of writing the film, calling it a “challenge” but a “welcomed one.” “A lot of research, books, talks with people that knew him,” he continued. “This film will be a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city. Jean has inspired me all through out my career, and it will be the biggest honor to tell his story in a way we haven’t seen before. I know a lot of yall gon be like FINALLY hahaha I love it. This ones for all those dreamers out there.”

Cudi has been building his acting portfolio over the years, appearing as himself in “Bill & Ted Face the Music” and “House Party” and taking on roles in Ti West’s “X,” “Pearl” and “MaXXXine.” He will make his feature directorial debut with “Doe,” which began production in Los Angeles earlier this year, and will direct the horror thriller “Wrong Number,” in which he will star opposite Barbie Ferreira.

Another recent film about Basquiat was in the works from director Kwame Kwei-Armah. “The Collaboration,” adapted from a 2022 stage play, starred Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pop as Andy Warhol and Basquiat. The film currently has no release date.