An upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic from Universal Studios will be written by “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” co-writer Joe Robert Cole. It will be directed by Allen Hughes who, along with his brother Albert, has directed films like “Menace II Society” and “Dead Presidents.”
Unlike a lot of biopics, this one is not being done posthumously. Not only is rapper and kid’s show host still alive, but he is heavily involved with the project. So involved that he is coproducing it with Sara Ramaker and Hughes. This upcoming film will also be the inaugural movie for Snoop’s Death Row Pictures, which he runs with Ramaker. Not to mention the soundtrack will feature plenty of music from his back catalog of work.
Universal has a pretty strong track record with films tapping into rap culture. In 2002, they released “8 Mile,” a thinly veiled autobiography about Rock Hall inductee Eminem. It won an Oscar for the Best Original Song for “Lose Yourself.” In 2015, lightning struck again with the mega-hit “Straight Outta Compton,” about rap group N.W.A.. That film grossed over $200 million, and got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
With Snoop shooting to fame in the early 1990s, he has been able to stay in the pop culture sphere through many different projects. Making him seem like the perfect candidate for a biopic. “Snoop Dogg is one of the most internationally beloved figures in hip-hop,” director Hughes said. “There’s just something about his energy that brings people of all walks of life together. Snoop Dogg, not just the artist, but the man and his brand, has transcended generations with his connection and appeal to audiences. His story is so authentic and utterly inspiring, and to have the opportunity to tell his story allows me to go back to the hood 30 years after Menace II Society, and say more now than I could then.”
“I’ve been a fan of Snoop since Deep Cover,” Cole added. “His music and the films of Allen Hughes have left an indelible mark on me over my life. What excites me most is the humanity of Snoop’s journey to international icon. Universal has proven they can guide a movie like this to something special. I’m proud to be a part of the team.”
And all this respect among the team even extends to the man himself. Snoop couldn’t be happier with the lineup so far. “I waited a long time to put this project together because I wanted to choose the right director, the perfect writer, and the greatest movie company I could partner with that could understand the legacy that I’m trying to portray on screen, and the memory I’m trying to leave behind,” Snoop said. “It was the perfect marriage. It was holy matrimony, not holy macaroni.” We hope all this love comes through in the final product.
Stay tuned to Nerdbot for more updates on the Snoop Dogg biopic as they become available.
