No word on whether the film will be a comedy or a tragedy, but the Washington Post reports that the story of former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry's life and scandal-plagued career could be coming to celluloid soon -- and starring Eddie Murphy:

We’re told that a still-untitled Barry biopic is in development by HBO Films, with the veteran comic and Oscar nominee attached as the star, Spike Lee as director, John Ridley as writer, and all three as executive producers ...

HBO officials would not comment. It’s not the first time the network has considered milking the Barry drama: In 2002, filming was reportedly due to start on a movie starring Jamie Foxx and written by Chris Rock that somehow never happened.

A rep for Councilmember Barry said he did not know about the latest project and had no comment.

Known by some as D.C.'s "mayor for life," Barry was acting mayor of Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 1991 and again from 1995 through 1999. He was caught red-handed smoking crack cocaine in downtown D.C. and served six months in prison on drug charges. No one can fully confirm the rumors about the upcoming film, but between Barry's story and Murphy's acting, we can pretty much guarantee that, should it materialize, it won't be boring. 

Read more at the Washington Post.

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