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Barack Obama has a message for Drake: Yes, you can. That means yes, you can play me in a biopic.
The former president has expressed his approval of the “God’s Plan” rapper’s long-standing desire to star in an Obama biopic. When asked if he would agree to the casting, he was denied in an interview with Complex’s 360 with Speedy MormanObama said: “Let me put it this way: Drake seems to be able to do anything he wants. I mean, he’s a very talented brother. So when the time comes and he’s ready…”
When Morman asked if Drake had his “stamp of approval,” Obama replied, “Drake has, and I think this is even more important, my family’s seal of approval. I suspect Malia and Sasha would be totally fine with that.”
Although the president has been portrayed by several actors on screen, most recently by Kingsley Ben-Adir in the Showtime miniseries The Comey RuleA comprehensive Obama biopic has yet to be shot. The recently published first volume of his memoirs, A promised landwill probably serve as helpful material for anyone who wants to set one up.
Drake first expressed interest in playing Obama in 2010, during the then president’s first term. “I hope someone makes a movie about Obama’s life soon, because I could play him,” the rapper said Paper at the time. “I watch all the speeches. Whenever I see him on TV, I don’t change the channel, I definitely pay attention and listen to the intonation of his voice. If you ask anyone who knows me, I’m pretty good at doing imitations. Slowly but surely, I’m no longer in learning mode because nobody has called me about anything, but I just pay attention so that when the day comes, I don’t have to frantically learn how to speak like him.”
In other words, when the hotline rings, he’s ready. You can watch the full Complex interview below.
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