Kid Cudi to Write, Direct and Star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in Biopic 'Jean'

Kid Cudi is developing a feature film about Jean-Michel Basquiat that he has written, will direct and will star in as the late artist. The musician and actor, born Scott Mescudi, announced the project, titled "Jean," on Instagram on Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to Billboard, which reported that the film will begin shooting in 2027.

No studio, distributor, producers or additional cast were named in the coverage of the announcement. Vulture reported that the project is subtitled "a Scott Mescudi film."

What Cudi Said

Billboard published the full text of the post, which opened: "JEAN. Written, directed and starring me. Filming 2027. For years people have asked me about playing Jean Michel Basquiat in a film. But no project actually came to be." Cudi went on to say that he decided this year to write the script himself, and that he had done a wardrobe test and had a wig made, adding that it "isnt the final just a rough, trust me we gon get it perfect."

He described the writing process in the same post. "To write a film about someone who existed was a challenge, but it was a welcomed one. A lot of research, books, talks with people that knew him," Cudi wrote, as quoted by Variety. "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."

He closed the post by addressing fans directly: "I know a lot of yall gon be like FINALLY hahaha I love it. This ones for all those dreamers out there," according to Consequence.

The announcement was accompanied by images of Cudi in character. Billboard described the photos as a first look at him as the Brooklyn artist, wearing a suit and Basquiat's signature tousled hairstyle, while Vulture reported that the post showed Cudi in the test wig.

Basquiat on Screen

Basquiat rose to prominence in the 1980s with paintings that addressed class and race in America and often featured his three-pointed crown motif, Billboard reported. He died of a drug overdose in 1988 at age 27.

Deadline reported that Basquiat remains a key American artist for collectors and museums, noting that Basquiat's 1982 painting "Untitled" sold in 2017 for a then-record $110.5 million.

"Jean" would join a number of earlier screen treatments of the artist's life. Julian Schnabel's 1996 feature "Basquiat" starred Jeffrey Wright in the title role, Deadline reported. Vulture noted that several documentaries have been made about the artist, including this year's "Jean-Michel," which was acquired by Netflix, and that Basquiat himself starred in "Downtown 81," playing a mythic version of himself.

Another Basquiat project remains unreleased. Variety reported that "The Collaboration," directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah and adapted from a 2022 stage play, stars Paul Bettany as Andy Warhol and Jeremy Pop as Basquiat. The film currently has no release date, according to Variety.

Cudi's Film and Television Work

The Basquiat project adds to a growing slate of film work for the 42-year-old Ohio native. According to Variety, Cudi will make his feature directorial debut with "Doe," which began production in Los Angeles earlier this year, and he will also direct the horror thriller "Wrong Number," in which he stars opposite Barbie Ferreira. Deadline reported that "Wrong Number," which Cudi wrote, is in production in Los Angeles and is his second film as a director.

As an actor, Cudi has appeared in Ti West's horror films "X," "Pearl" and "MaXXXine," and appeared as himself in "Bill & Ted Face the Music" and "House Party," Variety reported. Consequence noted that he has been acting since 2009, when he starred in the HBO series "How to Make It in America," and has since appeared in films including "Entourage," "Don't Look Up," "Silent Night" and "Happy Gilmore 2." Vulture added that he has also worked under his birth name in "Need for Speed" and "Westworld," and served as the second bandleader on "Comedy Bang! Bang!"

Cudi has also built projects around his music. Consequence reported that he created and starred in the Netflix animated musical romantic comedy "Entergalactic," a companion piece to his 2022 album of the same name. The outlet also noted that in 2022 Cudi announced he would make his directorial debut with the Netflix project "Teddy," with Jay-Z attached as a co-producer.

Billboard reported that "Jean" is scheduled to begin filming in 2027. No release date or distribution plan has been announced.