Marlon Wayans to Star in ‘GOAT’ for Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw, Universal

Marlon Wayans is ready to look at the scary side of perfection. The actor and comedian will star as an all-time great athlete in GOAT, a psychological horror film from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Universal, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The film centers on an up-and-coming young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star, who will be played by Wayans. Justin Tipping will direct the feature, which came out of a pitch from Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie. Peele will produce along with Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper and Jamal Watson.

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Wayans is coming off of work in Ben Affleck’s awards contender Air, about Nike’s quest to sign a young Michael Jordan, with other acting credits in recent years including the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks. He came up with comedic roles, such as on the WB ’90s sit-com The Wayans Bros., and with early big-screen hits including Scary Movie and White Chicks.

As a stand-up, he is currently on tour and in March released Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me, his third special on HBO Max.

Director Tippings co-wrote and directed the Focus Features title Kicks, a coming-of-age dramedy that featured Mahershala Ali. On the small screen, his work includes The Chi and Dear White People.

In addition to GOAT, Monkeypaw has an untitled Peele-directed feature in the works at Universal.

Wayans is repped by 3 Arts, WME, Vision PR, and Kevin Yorn and Ryan Goodell of Morris Yorn. Tipping is repped by UTA, Grandview and Ziffren Brittenham. Monkeypaw is repped by CAA and Jared Levine.

Deadline first reported the news of Wayans’ casting, while Tippings’ involvement came to light over the weekend in an edition of The InSneider newsletter.

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