Pauly Shore is getting ready to play Richard Simmons in a biopic about the fitness guru.
But Simmons most certainly has not given his blessing for Shore to do so.
It’s been no secret that he’s panned plans for a film adaptation of his life story.
Now the celebrity exercise advocate says he intends to pursue a biopic — just not with Shore and his creative partners.
More: Richard Simmons clarifies ‘I am dying’ social media post
“I just read that a man that I don’t know is writing my bio pic starring Pauly Shore,” Simmons, 75, said Wednesday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“I do not approve this movie,” he said. “I am in talks with major studios to create my own bio pic with some help. Wait for this movie.”
Simmons appeared to be responding to a report from Deadline that Jordan Allen-Dutton (”Robot Chicken,” “Lip Sync Battle”) would be writing the movie starring Shore, who is also producing the film.
So who does Simmons want to play him?
He told “Entertainment Tonight” he’d like to see Glen Ridge’s own Tom Cruise in the role.
Shore’s co-producer Mark Wolper had described their movie as “a dramatic and heartfelt feature in the tone of ‘Little Miss Sunshine.’”
Shore, 56, an actor and comedian who starred in ’90s film comedies like “Bio-Dome” (1996) and “Encino Man” (1992), has long been campaigning to play Simmons in a film, citing their apparent resemblance.
He already played Simmons in the short film “The Court Jester” from writer-director Jake Lewis, which premiered in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival in January — though it wasn’t a festival film. The short has racked up a 1.2 million views on YouTube.
Caution: Video contains some profanity
The film starts with a segment producer for “Ellen” staring down a doughnut. (He goes for a carrot instead.)
Simmons appears on the show to promote “Sweatin’ to the Oldies 5.” The oft-overlooked producer is shamed by his co-workers when he fails to hand him a copy of the video to hold during the segment. Shore’s version of Simmons, who goes straight for the rainbow sprinkle doughnut backstage, gives the producer a much-needed pep talk.
“You guys, I was up all night crying regarding Richard Simmons’ tweet,” Shore said in an Instagram post Thursday. “Richard, how do you not approve of this movie? I mean, really, who’s better to play you in a movie than ME? Leonardo DiCaprio’s not gonna play you. Brad Pitt’s not gonna play you. I’m perfect. Everyone already thinks I’m you. We’re the same. Beautiful, inside and out. Hellll yea!
“Richard, you haven’t even heard the pitch. Why don’t you simply let me come over to your house, bring you some warm matzo ball soup and a pastrami sandwich with dark mustard from Canters, rub your feet, and we can listen to the writer, Jordan Allen-Dutton, pitch you our idea?”
Shore said that he and Simmons are no strangers to each other, with Simmons having been a regular at The Comedy Store, his mother Mitzi Shore’s Los Angeles comedy club.
Simmons previously made it clear that he did not authorize Shore or the filmmakers involved in the forthcoming Simmons biopic to adapt his story for film, nor did he endorse the project.
“You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore,” Simmons said on Twitter/X in January. “I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read. I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life.”
While he long appeared to be largely withdrawn from public life, Simmons has been particularly active on X in recent months, devoting many threads to stories from his past.
Stories by Amy Kuperinsky
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.