Craig Brewer is attached to direct a new film centered on Snoop Dogg, working from his own rewrite of an original script by Joe Robert Cole. Brewer most recently directed Song Sung Blue for Universal's specialty studio Focus Features.
The project marks the first film to move forward under Death Row Pictures' overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment, as the label — long known for its visual identity in music — expands into onscreen storytelling. Snoop Dogg will produce alongside Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker, with Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer and Allan Mandelbaum also producing. Michael Beugg and Jeb Brody are set as executive producers. Ryan Jones, Senior Vice President of Production Development, and Tony Ducret, Director of Development, will oversee the film for the studio. The soundtrack will draw from Snoop's own catalogue of music.
Born Calvin Broadus in Long Beach, California, Snoop Dogg rose to become one of the defining rappers of the 1990s and a major pop culture figure by the decade's end. His mother, Beverly Broadus-Green — a church choir director — played a key role in shaping his identity, including giving him his stage name. Because young Calvin loved watching Peanuts, Beverly began calling him "Snoopy," saying he reminded her of the cartoon dog.
Actress London is also connected to the project, in what is described as a full-circle moment given her history with Snoop Dogg, with whom she worked on several music videos in the early 2000s. London, who was married to Nipsey Hussle, reunited with Snoop to pay tribute to the rapper following his death in 2019. A Los Angeles native, London has built a career as an actress, activist and entrepreneur, with credits including Netflix's You People, Without Remorse, ATL and Games People Play. She is also a mental health advocate and speaker, and has partnered with brands such as PUMA, DIFF Eyewear and The Marathon Clothing. She is represented by WME, FoxRothschild, Yaneley Arty and 1v1 Entertainment.
Universal Pictures has previously found success with music-driven biopics, most notably 2015's Straight Outta Compton, which chronicled the rise of N.W.A., grossed more than $200 million, and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Photo: Snoop Dogg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
