In its latest foray into music biopics, Universal Pictures is partnering with Snoop Dogg on a feature to be produced with the iconic rapper’s newly formed Death Row Pictures.
Allen Hughes, whose credits include Menace II Society and the FX Tupac Shakur docuseries Dear Mama which premiered in TIFF’s Primetime sidebar, will direct from a screenplay by Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole.
Snoop and Sara Ramaker will serve as producers on the first project for Death Row Pictures, alongside Hughes. The biopic will feature music from Dogg’s storied catalogue.
“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,” said Snoop. “It was the perfect marriage. It was holy matrimony, not holy macaroni.”
Donna Langley, chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, added: “Snoop Dogg’s life and legacy make him one of the most exciting and influential icons in popular culture. We met with Snoop shortly after he acquired Death Row Records and had the opportunity to hear his story in his own words. We are humbled to be able to create the lasting document of this singular artist.”
Snoop broke out in 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre’s debut solo single Deep Cover, and then on Dre’s debut solo album The Chronic. The music award winner has sold more than 35m albums worldwide and is an entrepreneur with holdings in lifestyle and tech ventures.
Universal was the studio behind the 2015 Oscar-nominated $200m-plus hit Straight Outta Compton, and 2002’s 8 Mile, the $240m-plus grossing hit that produced the best original song Oscar winner Lose Yourself.
Mike Knobloch, NBCUniversal’s president of music and publishing, will supervise the project’s music and Universal’s SVP of production development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio.
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