Kid Cudi To Direct, Write & Star In Basquiat Movie: “A Love Letter To Jean, The 80s & NY City”

Kid Cudi says he will write, direct and star in a film about artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, describing it as a love letter to Basquiat, 1980s New York and the city. Cudi said he had been asked for years to play Basquiat, but decided to create the project himself; it matters as another screen portrayal of an artist whose work and influence remain prominent.

Cudi announced the film, titled *Jean*, with filming planned for 2027, and shared images of himself in costume. Basquiat died in 1988 aged 27, and his 1982 painting *Untitled* sold for $110.5 million in 2017. The article notes that Basquiat has been the subject of documentaries and films, including Julian Schnabel’s 1996 feature starring Jeffrey Wright.