Kid Cudi is taking on one of downtown New York’s most mythologized artists, and he plans to do it from every seat in the production office. The rapper announced on Instagram this week, in a post dated October 21, that he is writing, directing and starring in JEAN, a biopic of Jean-Michel Basquiat. By his own account, production is set to begin next year.
Cudi called the project a “love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city.” He said he will play Basquiat himself, and that the late artist has been an inspiration across his career. Telling the story, he wrote, would be the “biggest honor” and a chance to do it “in a way we haven’t seen before.”
The announcement came with a mockup promotional poster and several black-and-white photos of Cudi as Basquiat, posed in a large studio. In the caption, he wrote that he is “so proud of and excited about” the film. He also described the writing process as a challenge he welcomed: “To write a film about someone who existed was a challenge, but it was a welcomed one. A lot of research, books, talks with people that knew him.”
The source report, from Hyperallergic, does not name a studio, a distributor, a cast beyond Cudi, a shooting location or a release date. All that is public so far is the Instagram post, the poster mockup and the photos, plus Cudi’s statement that cameras are due to roll next year. Anything beyond that, including how the film will handle Basquiat’s life and work, remains to be seen.
The timing lands in the middle of a visible turn toward visual art for Cudi. According to Hyperallergic, he debuted a painting practice under the name Scotty Ramon in a group presentation at Art Cologne 2025. This January he held his first solo exhibition, Echoes of the Past, at the Paris location of the gallery Ruttkowski;68. JEAN would put the rapper at the center of a story about an artist who moved between the street, the gallery and the music world of 1980s New York.
For a city that still treats Basquiat as a native son, the film adds a new chapter to the ongoing retelling of that era. Cudi’s framing, a love letter to the artist and to New York in the ’80s, signals he wants the setting to carry as much weight as the man. How he plans to stage that, and where he will shoot it, is not stated in the announcement as reported.
For now, the film exists as a poster mockup, a set of studio photos and a stated start date. Production, Cudi says, begins next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is playing Jean-Michel Basquiat in the JEAN biopic?
Kid Cudi announced on Instagram that he will star as Jean-Michel Basquiat, and he is also writing and directing the film. No other cast members have been named publicly.
When will production start on the JEAN movie?
According to Kid Cudi’s October 21 Instagram announcement, production is set to begin next year. No specific shooting dates or locations have been disclosed.
Has a studio or distributor been announced for JEAN?
No studio, distributor, shooting location, or release date has been publicly named for the film. The only public materials so far are the Instagram post, a mockup poster, and studio photos.
What is Kid Cudi’s connection to visual art?
Kid Cudi debuted a painting practice under the name Scotty Ramon at Art Cologne 2025. He then held his first solo exhibition, Echoes of the Past, at the Paris location of Ruttkowski;68 in January.
How did Kid Cudi describe the JEAN project?
Cudi called the film a “love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city” and said telling the story would be the “biggest honor.” He also said he did extensive research, including books and talks with people who knew Basquiat.
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