It was somewhat inevitable — there have been books written about him, he’s been a part of a reality show (about himself) and HBO made a well-received documentary about his political career and legacy. So it was only really a matter of time before someone thought to make a movie about Marion Barry.

The Post’s Reliable Source reports:

After years of talk, the unbelievable-but-true story of Marion Barry may be coming soon to a flat-screen TV near you — starring Eddie Murphy as D.C.’s former mayor-for-life.

We’re told that a still-untitled Barry biopic is in development by HBO Films, with the veteran comic and Oscar nominee attached as the star, Spike Lee as director, John Ridley as writer, and all three as executive producers.

I think a movie is long overdue — Barry’s career, from rabble-rouser and civil rights hero to good first-term mayor to terrible every-other-term mayor to two-term Ward 8 councilmember (and running for a third!) makes for incredible drama — but Eddie Murphy as the guy to play Barry? It’s not that he hasn’t starred in any good movies, it’s more that the comedic background seems an odd fit. (He doesn’t really like Barry either, but no one but the man really would.) Sure, Murphy would be a star attraction, but given Spike Lee’s history, couldn’t a better choice be found? To cite Barry’s most famous quote, did a bitch set Lee up?

There are better actors out there for the part. Why not Glynn Turman, who played Mayor Clarence Royce in The Wire? He wouldn’t need much coaching — he did play a divisive and ethically bankrupt politician in the acclaimed show, after all. Or Jesse L. Martin, who made his name on Law & Order? (He’s also from around these parts.) Or Blair Underwood? If it’s really star power that’s needed, there’s always Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson or Don Cheadle. It’s worth remembering that it was Cheadle who played legendary D.C. DJ Petey Greene in 2007’s Talk to Me, so he may have a better sense of the District’s turbulent past.

The Reliable Source also mentions that NBC 4’s Tom Sherwood and the Examiner Harry Jaffe have been brought on as consultants, and that makes sense — they did write Dream City, a must-read for anyone trying to understand how Barry came to be and how he went wrong. It’s also a relief, because for as simple as Barry may seem, there are plenty of layers that only locals who have followed Barry for that long could understand.