Eddie Murphy has always credited Richard Pryor as being his inspiration for getting into comedy. Murphy did a pitch-perfect imitation of Pryor in his concert film, “Raw,” and he cast his idol in his sole directorial effort, “Harlem Nights.” It seemed natural when it was announced earlier this year that Murphy would star in a film about Pryor’s life.

So it was a big shock when Entertainment Weekly broke the story last week that Murphy was dropping out of the Pryor biopic. The movie, called “Richard Pryor: Is it Something I Said,” will be written and directed by Bill Condon. Condon also made “Dreamgirls,” the 2006 musical that earned Murphy his only Oscar nomination. According to the report, Murphy left over conflicts with the project’s original studio, Paramount Pictures.

Even more surprising is the identity of the star who is stepping into the role of Pryor: Marlon Wayans. Best known for the comedies he has made with his brothers like “Scary Movie,” Wayans had a big action hit this year with “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” But he has also given a few critically acclaimed performances, most notably as a heroin addict in “Requiem for a Dream.”

EW.com reports that Wayans filmed a 13-minute screen test where he “transforms into Pryor” that secured the role for him. Condon used a similar approach while making “Dreamgirls” to prove that Beyoncé Knowles was right for the lead in that film.

While the movie will obviously have its share of comedy its producers include Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, along with Pryor’s widow Jennifer Lee Pryor — it will also tell the dramatic story of the comic’s battles with drug addiction. There is no word yet if it goes into Pryor’s later years when he was confined to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis. The film is set to begin shooting in the spring.