Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine Tapped to Produce Biopic
Dr. Dre and Iovine team up to produce the long-awaited Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” biopic.
Warner Bros. bought the biopic script for over $80 million, written by Marcus Gardley, according to Deadline. Dr. Dre and Iovine will join filmmaker Andrew Lazar in producing the biopic, with Allen Hughes directing.
In an interview with Deadline, Hughes expressed his personal connection to the project, stating, “When I made my first film with my brother, we were lucky to include ‘What’s Going On’ in the trailer for ‘Menace 2 Society,’ and it completely transformed the film’s marketing. Almost all of my films, except for ‘From Hell,’ featured Marvin Gaye’s music, and I’ve always felt a deep connection to him.”
According to Deadline, the Marvin Gaye estate and Motown gave the green light for the project. Moreover, Gaye’s widow, actress Jan Gaye will serve as an executive producer.
Expected Film Release
The film will debut in 2023. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Gaye’s influential “What’s Going On” album. In fact, numerous individuals are fascinated by the singer’s early life, the conflicts with his father, and his love life. The film will delve into various personal aspects.
“You’ve heard about all the famous directors who have spent decades trying to secure these rights,” Hughes explained. “It all began with Dre suggesting that we do this together, and then Jimmy joined in. We collaborated with the estate, Motown, and other entities to finalize everything, and we succeeded.”
The biopic serves as one of many collaborations between Dre and Iovine. The HBO series “The Defiants Ones,” touches on their decades-long friendship, which Hughes directed too.
Other Community Engagements
Dr. Dre and Iovine have also announced their vision to develop a magnet school in Los Angeles. The school will provide entrepreneurial programs, high-tech equipment, and projects that involve private industry.
