Universal Pictures‘ Snoop Dogg biopic movie is blazing a path toward bringing the rap legend’s life to the screen.
The feature project from director Craig Brewer has cast Outer Banks actor Jonathan Daviss in the lead role. Brewer (Coming 2 America, Hustle & Flow) is revising the script that was previously penned by Joe Robert Cole and tells the story of Calvin Broadus Jr.’s eventful journey along his path to fame as Snoop Dogg.
Producers include Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. This will be the first project through Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. Universal senior vp of production development Ryan Jones oversees the feature for the studio.
Davis is known for his breakthrough role as Pope Heyward on the Netflix adventure series Outer Banks, which has been picked up for a fifth and final season. The 25-year-old actor also appeared in the Netflix feature Do Revenge.
Snoop Dogg is a 17-time Grammy-nominated artist who has also become a television and film mainstay. His debut album, Doggystyle, debuted in 1993 from Death Row Records and counts Dr. Dre as the sole producer, spawning the hit singles “What’s My Name?” and “Gin and Juice.”
Music biopics remain a top priority for Hollywood following such recent success stories as Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love and Searchlight’s Timothée Chalamet-led A Complete Unknown, with the latter Bob Dylan-focused feature landing eight Oscar nominations. Sony’s four-film project about the Beatles is set for theatrical release in April 2028, while the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere debuts this fall.
Daviss is represented by Monster Talent, Innovative Artists and Skrzyniarz & Mallean.
Deadline was first to report on Daviss’ casting.