DreamWorks has set Jamie Foxx and Usher Raymond to join Beyonce Knowles in "Dreamgirls," the Bill Condon-directed adaptation of the stage musical reports Variety. The studio is circling Eddie Murphy to play singer James "Thunder" Early for the film, which begins production in January in Los Angeles.
Foxx will get to test his vocal chops in the role of Curtis Taylor Jr., the Svengali-like manager who leads female singing group the Dreamettes to stardom as the Dreams. Musical was the thinly veiled story of the Supremes, and the model for Taylor was Berry Gordy.
Usher will play choreographer C.C. White. Murphy is being courted to play a character that's one part James Brown, one part Marvin Gaye -- a charismatic womanizer and R&B star who gives the Dreamettes their first big break when he invites them to sing backup for him. Still to be cast is the remaining member of the Dreams.
Thanks to 'Mr. M'.
