Kid Cudi will portray Jean-Michel Basquiat in JEAN, a biopic he has written and will direct, taking charge of a project he says people have encouraged him to pursue for years. The musician, actor and filmmaker, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, announced the film on October 21, sharing early wardrobe test images and confirming that filming is scheduled to begin in 2027. After previous attempts to get a project off the ground failed to materialise, Kid Cudi decided to write the screenplay himself.
Kid Cudi revealed the news on social media, explaining that people had repeatedly asked when he would portray Basquiat, but the idea had never developed into a film. Rather than wait for another opportunity, he chose to create one himself. Described as a Scott Mescudi vision, JEAN will see him take on the lead role while also serving as the film’s writer and director. No supporting cast, distributor or release date has been announced.
The first images offer an early glimpse of Kid Cudi’s transformation into the artist. He appears in a dark wig inspired by Basquiat’s dreadlocks, although he has stressed that the look is not final. The photographs were taken during a wardrobe test, offering a preview of the preparation process rather than a definitive look at the finished character. Basquiat’s distinctive appearance was an important part of his public image, but the film’s approach to his physical portrayal and personal story remains to be seen.
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Kid Cudi has also discussed the work involved in writing the screenplay. He described writing about a real person as a challenge he welcomed, explaining that his preparation included extensive research, reading books and speaking with people who knew Basquiat. These accounts could help ground the film in the artist’s life and surroundings. However, Kid Cudi has not yet shared plot details or specified which periods of Basquiat’s life the story will cover.
Basquiat rose to prominence in New York during the late 1970s and 1980s. He initially attracted attention through graffiti created under the name SAMO before establishing himself as a recognised painter. His work combined words, symbols and expressive figures, frequently addressing race, power, identity and inequality. The crown became one of his best-known visual signatures. Basquiat died in 1988 at the age of 27, while his influence on contemporary art continued to grow.
For Kid Cudi, the film is also a personal tribute to an artist who has inspired him throughout his career. He has described JEAN as a “love letter to Jean, the ’80s and New York City.” The statement suggests that the project will look beyond a straightforward portrait of Basquiat to revisit the city and era that helped shape his work. How the film will balance the artist’s public image with the person behind the paintings remains undisclosed.
JEAN will not be the first screen portrayal of Basquiat. Julian Schnabel’s 1996 film Basquiat starred Jeffrey Wright as the artist, with David Bowie portraying Andy Warhol. Another project, The Collaboration, adapted from the stage play about Basquiat and Warhol, starred Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany. Kid Cudi has said he hopes to tell Basquiat’s story in a way audiences have not seen before, although the film’s specific approach remains under wraps.
The project adds to Kid Cudi’s growing work as a filmmaker. He is developing Doe, which began production in Los Angeles earlier this year, and is set to direct Wrong Number, a horror thriller in which he will star opposite Barbie Ferreira. JEAN brings his filmmaking ambitions together with a subject that has held personal significance for him for years.
For now, Kid Cudi has offered a starting point rather than a detailed picture of the finished film: his decision to write the screenplay himself, the research behind it and an early glimpse of his transformation into Basquiat. Cameras are expected to roll in 2027, while further details about the production remain unannounced. His connection to Basquiat is clear; the next step will be seeing how that admiration translates to the screen.
