Scott Mescudi, or Kid Cudi as he is more commonly known, has announced that he is making a biopic about famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. On the same day, Cudi went online to announce that he was also looking to work with trans actors.
Taking to X, the Grammy-winning artist said, “If you are a trans actor looking for work, holla at me.” This came shortly after he announced that he would be writing, directing and starring in a new film about Basquiat, titled Jean.
This offers a welcome opportunity for more trans representation on screen as several actors have openly discussed how difficult it has become to find work in recent times. Jack Haven, who starred alongside Cudi in Bill & Ted Face the Music, recently posted a video online actively looking for work to help meet the earnings threshold required to qualify for health insurance through the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA).
If you are a trans actor looking for work, holla at me. 🙏🏾❤️🔥
— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) October 22, 2026
Basquiat was a prominent New York City artist and a leading figure in neo-expressionism, collaborating with contemporaries such as Andy Warhol. There has been speculation about his sexuality, with biographical accounts documenting relationships with people of different genders. Tragically, the artist passed away at the age of 27 from a heroin overdose in 1988.
The project has been a long time in the making, with Cudi posting on his Instagram, “For years people have asked me about playing Jean-Michel Basquiat in a film. But no project actually came to be. This year, I finally said f**k it, ima write it myself.” This was posted alongside images of Cudi in an early wardrobe test for the film.
He added, “This film will be a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city. Jean has inspired me all through out my career, and it will be the biggest honor to tell his story in a way we haven’t seen before.”
Cudi is a familiar face in film and television, both in front of and behind the camera. He has acted in several projects, including Ti West’s X, where he starred alongside Mia Goth and Brittany Snow, and openly queer director Luca Guadagnino’s miniseries We Are Who We Are.
Kid Cudi has also directed many of his own music videos and is credited as the creator and story writer of the 2022 animated feature Entergalactic, in which he also provided voice acting.
Although few details have been released about the Basquiat biopic, it is aiming to begin filming in 2027.
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