PARK CITY, UTAH – Kenya Barris, renowned television creator and director, shared exciting updates on three of his highly-anticipated projects at the Variety Studio presented by Audible during the Sundance Film Festival. Initially announced in 2020, Barris revealed that his Richard Pryor biopic, regarded as a transformative figure in comedy, has now been reimagined as a ten-part limited biographical series.
Barris expressed his enthusiasm for the Richard Pryor series, which will explore Pryor’s life from his tumultuous upbringing to his rise as a global superstar. He described Pryor as his “comedy god,” acknowledging the comedian’s flaws while highlighting his lasting influence on the comedy world. Barris sees the series as an opportunity to shed light on lesser-known aspects of Pryor’s life and hopes to captivate audiences with his storytelling.
In addition to the Richard Pryor series, Barris provided updates on his modern interpretations of two classic films, “The Wizard of Oz” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The script for his revamped version of “The Wizard of Oz,” set in the Bottoms, a massive apartment complex in Inglewood, California, is complete. Barris believes this is the perfect time to switch up the characters and explore the power of imagination and self-discovery.
While reimagining “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Barris aims to center the story around a person of color. He sees the narrative, originally popularized in Frank Capra’s 1946 film starring Jimmy Stewart, as an ideal platform to address the challenges faced by marginalized communities and the individuals who strive to uplift them.
Barris is a firm believer in the power of intellectual property (IP), recognizing the enduring nature of timeless stories. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to retell beloved tales from alternative perspectives, emphasizing the gift of storytelling from a fresh point of view.
As Barris continues to work on these exciting projects, fans eagerly await the release of his reimagined Richard Pryor series and his unique takes on “The Wizard of Oz” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”