Marlon Wayans To Put on Hebrew Face for New Movie

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 6, 2009

Not only does Marlon Wayans still exist, apparently he’s also getting cast in things. I know it may sound weird to talk about a guy that consistently gets one or two movies every one or two years as if he’s been off the radar for a really long time, but in a way, hasn’t he? I think we all assume that he’ll be in whatever next installment of the Scary Movie series will be making its way to theaters every month, but even when he lands a larger role, it seems like his name isn’t anywhere on the press release. For instance, were you savvy to the fact that he’ll be playing Megan Fox in Transformers 2?

Probably not. Neither did I until I did a little digging, spurned on by the news that he would be producing and starring in an adaptation of A.J. Jacobs’ The Year of Living Biblically.

According to Cinematical, the actor will be bringing the non-fiction book to life as the fictional story of a man who attempts to live as closely to the laws of the Bible as possible. No pulling asses from pits on the Sabbath. Avoiding women who are menstruating. No shaving that glorious, faith-inspiring beard.

I read the book when it first came out, and it’s actually really hard for me to imagine them adapting it in a meaningful way, especially now with Wayans attached. The book itself is a heartfelt, lightly funny (the author claims to be Jewish the same way that Olive Garden is Italian), and delves deep into the identity of faith and interpersonal connections. I just can’t see the adaptation being anything more than a glossed version where a man finds some reason to live this way until it strains his marriage and he has to give it all up for his wife.

“Either the beard goes or I do! You look like Don King exploded all over your face!”

Man, have they started writing this thing yet? Because I could be a big help.

As if creating my own segue, the script was written by newcomer Jay Reiss and being directed by Julian Farino (who has done several episodes of “Entourage,” “Big Love,” and “The Office”).

What do you think? Will Marlon Wayans put on Hebrew Face to become Jewish for this? Or just do it as is?

Read more articles by Dr. Cole Abaius