Rapper Eminem is probably one of the most influential rappers of the generation and has a global presence. The Detroit native has won fifteen Grammy Awards for his albums and has also won an Academy Award for the song Lose Yourself in his semi-biographical drama 8 Mile. He became the first hip-hop artist to win the award.
Eminem has also dabbled in acting and was in a starring role in the drama 8 Mile. The film was based on his own life as a struggling rapper in Detroit and his issues with his family. While he has made small appearances in films since he was reportedly considered for a starring role in Neil Blomkamp’s sci-fi film Elysium.
Eminem’s Short Acting Career
While Eminem is one of the greatest rappers of a generation, he has made a few appearances as an actor. He was an extra on the music video for ‘Got The Life’ by the band Korn, during the making of which he gave his album CD to the band members. He also appeared in a small role along with other rappers such as Ludacris in the Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre starrer The Wash.
Eminem starred in the semi-biographical drama film 8 Mile, where he played a younger version of himself. The film dealt with his struggling days as an up-and-coming rapper in the rap battle scene in Detroit, a field dominated by African-American rappers. The film also deals with his home life and issues with his mother played by Kim Basinger.
The film opened to positive reviews and critical acclaim upon release. It was considered to be one of the best films of 2002 by many outlets. Eminem won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the track ‘Lose Yourself’, becoming the first hip-hop artist to ever win the award. He did not attend the ceremony and the award was received by Luis Resto.
Eminem only appeared in short cameos since 8 Mile, though he was considered for quite a few roles. He appeared in films such as Funny People and The Interview. The rapper mentioned that he would concentrate more on his music as it is something that he loves the most.
Eminem Was Offered The Lead Role In Elysium
Director Neil Blomkamp, who was known for his legendary sci-fi hit District 9, revealed that he had approached Eminem to star in his sophomore directorial project Elysium. According to Wired, Blomkamp had first envisioned the film with a smaller budget and had approached South African rapper Watkin Tudor Jones a.k.a Ninja.
Ninja revealed that he was not keen on making his acting debut in an American film. Hence, the artist rejected the role despite being a huge fan of Blomkamp’s District 9. Ninja even proved his dedication to the film with a ‘D9’ tattoo on his lip. After Ninja refused to star in the film, Blomkamp reportedly approached Eminem.
While he was keen on doing the film, he insisted that filming be shifted to his hometown of Detroit rather than the film’s initial Los Angeles setting. This change turned out to be unfeasible for the production and hence Eminem could not star in the film. Blomkamp then finally went to Matt Damon, who accepted the film.
The film was a moderately successful film both critically and at the box office. The film earned over $286 million globally and received mixed reviews. Blomkamp himself revealed that he regretted some aspects of the film and that he would love to go back and correct it if given the chance.
Also read: Eminem Made a Cameo in One Piece After Eiichiro Oda’s Love for his Rap Music
