Funnyman Eddie Murphy is set to tackle a controversial new role playing shamed U.S. politician Marion Barry in an upcoming biopic.
Filmmaker Spike Lee will direct Murphy in the as-yet-untitled movie about the former Washington D.C. mayor, who hit headlines after he was caught smoking crack in 1990.
Barry, who was mayor of the city from 1979 to 1991 and from 1995 to 1999, served six months behind bars after he was arrested on drug charges.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lee, Murphy and screenwriter John Ridley will serve as executive producers on the HBO Films project.