DEREK LUKE - DIDDY PERSUADED LUKE TO TAKE NOTORIOUS ROLE

DIDDY PERSUADED LUKE TO TAKE NOTORIOUS ROLE

Actor DEREK LUKE initially rejected his role as SEAN COMBS in new BIGGIE SMALLS biopic NOTORIOUS until he received a telephone call from the hip-hop mogul urging him to sign on to the project.
Luke immersed himself into the new movie, playing Bad Boy boss Combs, in the story of rap legend Smalls, also known as Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997.
But the actor admits he was reluctant to take on the film, fearing he'd never have enough time to prepare for the weighty role.
He says, "I was the last person cast. I had a week, Jamal (Woolard, who portrayed Smalls) had like six months. I wish I had six months. As a matter of fact, I kind of turned the project down a few times because I felt like I didn't have enough time... I wanted to do it right.
"It wasn't until I got the call from Mr. Combs that I decided this was the thing to do. I didn't want to mess it up.
"I'll do anybody else's story, but I did not want to do this story because it's like Biggie's not dead, so I didn't want to touch it."