All Black Remake of âItâs A Wonderful Lifeâ Stars Tyler Perry
It was bound to happen. First, a mixed-race version of the Broadway musical Annie, starringÂ Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, and now actor/producer Tyler Perry,Â best knownÂ as the tough-talking, streetwise transvestite âMedea,â has completedÂ production of an all-black re-doÂ of the beloved ChristmasÂ classicÂ Itâs a Wonderful Life. In this made-for-TV urban updateÂ of the 1946 Hollywood classic, Perry cast himself as main character George Bailey, while co-producer Oprah Winfrey portrays his wife, Mary. The town of Bedford Falls has becomeÂ the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoodÂ of Brooklyn (birthplace of rap mogul Jay-Z and heavyweight prizefighter Mike Tyson, among others). The Bailey Building and Loan Association is now Baileyâs PaydayÂ Check Cashing Store, and George meets his guardian angel Clarence â now a homeless vagrant portrayedÂ by actor Wesley Snipes â on the Brooklyn Bridge. But wait, thereâs more â much more. Rounding out the cast is Preciousâ star Gabourey Sidibe asÂ taxi dancerÂ Violet, James Earl Jones as the villainous Mr. Potter, and Willow Smith, daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, as youngest daughter Zuzu Bailey, who delivers perhaps the most famousÂ line ofÂ the new telefilm: âTeacher say, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.â Reaction has been colorful.Â Fox News commentator Megyn Kelly, who last year issued an on-air apology after telling young Fox News viewersÂ that Santa Claus was definitely white, may find herself making an apology again this year. âIs this part of the war on Christmas or is my calendar wrongÂ and is today actually April 1? Is nothing sacred?â Veteran film critic Rex Reed was much more direct: âJust kill me,â he reportedly remarked. Perry says hisÂ new version will introduceÂ an entirely new audience to theÂ film, but knew hisÂ tampering with a cherished Hollywood classic would open him up to criticism. âThis film influences a lot of the work I do today,â said Perry. âFor people who sayÂ this version will not be accepted I say this: ten years ago no one thought weâd have an African-American family in the White House. If we can live inÂ 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, then weÂ can live in the Bailey House.âÂ Oprah Winfrey added, âGrowing up, my favorite book of all time wasÂ To Kill A Mockingbird, and my favorite movie was â and still is âÂ Itâs A Wonderful Life. I feel honored to be a part of this timeless, universal, life-affirming story. Weâre taking a look at MockingbirdÂ for next year!â she chirped. Perry, as owner of his own productionÂ franchise â and as such, a Hollywood outsider â can do as he pleases, but the real test will be crossover ratings. McDonaldâs is the sole sponsor of the project. Tyler Perryâs Itâs A Wonderful Life is set to air Christmas weekÂ 2014 on the Oprah Winfrey Network.