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Wesley Snipes a cert to play James Brown, says Spike Lee

But Snipes will not be singing in the Godfather of Soul biopic. Wesley Snipes is on track to play James Brown in a movie about his life, says director Spike Lee. Lee revealed at the Sundance Film Festival that the project is "going to happen", but that Snipes will not be singing in the flick.

"I want to hear James Brown's voice. That's just my personal taste," Lee told MTV News. "I know Joaquin Phoenix in 'Walk the Line', he did some of the singing. I'm a purist.

Lee bought the movie's rights with Paramount Pictures following the death of Brown on Christmas Day 2006, and Snipes has been linked to the role since 2007.

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