When you’re a living legend like Whoopi Goldberg, producers and directors are always clamoring to have you involved in their projects. Usually these pitches go through agents and studios, but for his new movie, “Outlaw Posse,” writer/director Mario Van Peebles had a very unique interaction with the EGOT winner, which led to her appearing in the film.
“I did not cast Whoopi. Whoopi cast herself,” Van Peebles told Page Six. “I was directing a show on the [Hulu series] ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ in New Jersey, and this neighbor came over all irate yelling, ‘Who is making all that racket,’ and it was Whoopi.”
Once she saw it was Van Peebles, the two artists found themselves in a discussion about “The View” host’s next project. Luckily for us all, she really wanted to do a western.
“I asked her what do you want to do next,” Van Peebles said, “and she said, ‘I want to do a Western’ and I said ‘I’m getting ready to do a Western.’ Then she said, ‘Do you know who Stagecoach Mary is?,’ and I said ‘Yes.’”
in “Outlaw Posse” Van Peebles stars as Chief, an outlaw who reunites with old friends, enemies and acquaintances as he tries to get his hands on a hidden stash of gold.
In addition to Whoopi wanting to play Stagecoach Mary, the “Black Cake” director noted that she also met his own unique casting process.
“I have my own rule when it comes to casting for a movie: No matter who or what the person is…if we were all at camp and we were twelve years old, would I wanna play with you? If the answer is yes—‘She will be fun to play with!—then, yes, you are in the movie,” he said.
Goldberg joins Kimberly Elise; Erykah Badu; and Zazie Beetz as the latest actress to play Stagecoach Mary, who was the first Black woman to work a major route as a United States mail carrier. At this point, it feel like she’s overdue for her own movie.
Starring Mario Van Peebles; Whoopi Goldberg; Cedric The Entertainer; DC Young Fly; Allen Payne; and Mandela Van Peebles, “Outlaw Posse” is now playing in theaters.