Bernie Mac to take Spencer Tracy role

Bernie Mac, who co-starred as Bosley in Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle, is to take the role played by Spencer Tracy in a remake of the 1967 film classic Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?

In a twist on the original script, which dealt with a white father grappling with meeting his daughter’s black fiancé, played by Sidney Poitier, the father will be black in the new version and the prospective husband white.

The film earned two Oscars, for Katherine Hepburn and for the script. At the time, the topic of interracial marriage was considered risky.

“Interracial dating is not that significant anymore,” Mac told USA Today.

He promises the new version will not be a comic sendup.

“They want to make it a comedy but I won’t disrespect Spencer, Katherine or Sidney,” he said.