Last year, Pauly Shore was cast as fitness guru Richard Simmons in an upcoming biopic. This is a role Shore has been angling to do for years, even going so far as to shoot a short called “The Court Jester,” written/directed by Jake Lewis, as a proof of concept.
On April 24th, Simmons posted to X (formally Twitter) stating, once again, that he did not approve this project. Nor does he support it in any way shape or form.
“I just read that a man that I don’t know is writing my bio pic starring Pauly Shore,” the post reads. “I do not approve this movie. I am in talks with major studios to create my own bio pic with some help. Wait for this movie.”
It seems that no one knew Simmons was in the process of creating his own biopic. Despite Shore’s project already being in the works at The Wolper Organization, a Warner Bros. subsidiary, with Jordan Allen-Dutton (“Robot Chicken”) attached to write the script.
Shore’s Reaction
Shore gave a rather lengthy response via his Instagram in which he revealed he was “was up all night crying” over the post. “Richard, how do you not approve of this movie,” he wrote. “I mean, really, who’s better to play you in a movie than ME? Leonardo DiCaprio’s not gonna play you. Brad Pitt’s not gonna play you. I’m perfect. Everyone already thinks I’m you. We’re the same. Beautiful, inside and out. Hellll yea!”
The problem is portraying a cultural figure has more to it than just appearance alone. Shore pointed out that Simmons “haven’t even heard the pitch.” Then asked if he and Allen-Dutton could come over so Simmons could hear them out.
“Why don’t you simply let me come over to your house, bring you some warm matzo ball soup and a pastrami sandwich with dark mustard from Canters, rub your feet, and we can listen to the writer, Jordan Allen-Dutton, pitch you our idea?”
Simmons Blessing Isn’t Needed
Even if Simmons rejects that… enthusiastic… offer it doesn’t really matter. Because “as you know, many biopics are made without the subject agreeing to be part of it: Elvis, Stephen Hawking, Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs and many, many more,” Shore wrote. “Some of them turned out good, some of them turned out bad. Mine is going to turn out amaze-balls.”
The production company also backs this “do it anyway” stance. “While we would love to have [Simmons] involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story,” The Wolper Organization said in a statement. “We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, however he is an amazing person that changed millions of peoples’ lives, and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”
Past Disaproval
This seems like a wildly over-the-top reaction from Shore given that the normally reclusive Simmons has been vocal about his disapproval.
“You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore,” Simmons posted to Facebook in January. “I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read.”
When “The Court Jester,” premiered at Sundance Film Festival Shore told Variety that this movie is “all about love,” with or without the real Simmons’ blessing. “It’s never been vindictive. I’m not Borat. I’m not ‘let’s make fun of someone.’ It’s the opposite. At this point, it’s an unauthorized biopic and they’re made every day,” Shore said. “Yes, I want him to put his pixie dust on this and say, ‘Go for it, Pauly.’ We don’t want to bug him. We want him to be left alone and we don’t want to bug him. We want to pay homage to him and kiss his feet and say he’s done beautiful stuff.”
So it’s clear that Shore understood, to some degree, that he was unhappy with the project. But the comedian dug in his heels and explained why he relates to Simmons so deeply.
Why?
“I relate to him a lot,” Shore added. “I saw an interview he did recently and him saying how he’s by himself. He’s secluded. He doesn’t have any friends or family. He’s just alone. That is similar to me right now. My parents passed away. My siblings, we don’t have a great relationship. I’m not married. When I am out touring, it’s very big and America…and then I come home and I’m by myself. I definitely feel like I am him. I feel like there is a part of me that is very similar.”
We hope if either project comes to fruition they are done with respect for Simmons. You can check out the teaser for “The Court Jester,” below:
