More Jazz Biopics in the News

I've already mentioned the Miles Davis biopic that is moving forward full-steam-ahead with Don Cheadle portraying the "Prince of Darkness", but I got to thinking that maybe there were more out there that I didn't know about. Sure enough, I was able to learn of two more that have been mentioned in the news of late:

• Although it seems to be moving forward slowly, Morgan Freeman is taking on the role of Duke Ellington in the Antoine Fuqua-directed The Jazz Ambassadors.
• Wynton Marsalis is executive producing the film Bolden! about the life and times of Buddy Bolden, who will be portrayed by Anthony Mackie.

However, it was this news blurb I saw this morning on the MTV Movie Blog, but apparently posted earlier on Contact Music, that really gave me a strange vibe:

Director Wants Wesley Snipes For Thelonious Monk Biopic

All I could think of after reading this was -- hmmmmmm. I'm still not sure what to make of it.  Snipes as Monk? Does he really have the acting chops for this? When was the last time he really acted in anything worth seeing? To quote a recent article at JoBlo, "Snipes can currently be seen filling the bottom shelf of video stores." I'd love to hear your feedback.  The article also mentions Denzel Washington as a possible, but for me, Denzel Washington in the jazz world will always be Bleek Gilliam.