Advertisement

Barack Obama backs Drake to play him in biopic

Barack Obama and Drake (Getty)
Barack Obama and Drake (Getty)

Barack Obama has endorsed music artist Drake to portray him in a prospective biopic of the former US president’s life.

Drake had previously expressed a desire to play Obama back in 2010, telling Paper magazine: “I hope somebody makes a movie about Obama’s life soon because I could play him.”

He added: “That’s the goal. I watch all the addresses. Any time I see him on TV, I don’t change the channel, I definitely pay attention and listen to the inflections of his voice. If you ask anyone who knows me, I’m pretty good at impressions.”

Now, in a recent episode of Complex’s 360 With Speedy Morman, the host asked Obama whether he would give Drake his “thumbs up” to portray him on film.

“I will say this: Drake seems to be able to do anything he wants,” said the former head of state. “I mean, that is a talented brother. So if the time comes, and he’s ready…”

Asked whether this constituted a “stamp of approval”, Obama remained coy, but said: “Drake has – more importantly – my household’s stamp of approval. I suspect [daughters] Malia and Sasha would be just fine with it.”

Obama has already been played by Parker Sawyers in the 2016 film Southside With You, which fictionalised his first date with Michelle Robinson (later Michelle Obama) in 1989.

Michelle was played by Tika Sumpter, and the film received a small amount of acclaim.

Read More

Drake says new album Certified Lover Boy is ‘music to evolve to’

Drake bests Aretha Franklin, Wonder to set Billboard record

We read Barack Obama’s tell-all autobiography