EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan Daviss is set to star as the venerable hip hop artist Snoop Dogg in the definitive biopic from Universal Pictures. Best known for Outer Banks, Daviss takes the lead role days after the studio set Craig Brewer to direct the film.
The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures President Sara Ramaker.
Daviss hails from Houston, and played the role of Pope in the Netflix YA drama Outer Banks. In 2022, he starred in Netflix’s Do Revenge opposite Sophie Turner, Maya Hawke and Austin Abrams. Previous credits include Age of Summer and Edge of the World.
The film is a look at how Calvin Broadus Jr. entered into the West Coast hip hop fray. Taking the moniker Snoop Doggy Dogg (he’d later drop the middle name), Snoop brought his laid back drawling delivery and sharp lyrics to Death Row Records where he worked with Dr Dre on his smash debut album Doggystyle. He broadened into other platforms to the point he might well be seen rubbing elbows with Martha Stewart or getting in the pool with Michael Phelps during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he became one of the high points of that Olympiad on NBC and Peaock.
The film is the first project under Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios as the label moves into motion pictures. Numerous of Snoop’s recent forays are tied to NBC Universal: he’s returning to NBC’s musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28.
The Snoop Dogg film becomes Universal’s third outing about the formative stories of hip hop icons. The others include the Eminem-starrer 8 Mile, and Straight Outta Compton traced the roots of the seminal rap group N.W.A. and their rise to become one of the most influential acts of the gangsta rap and West Coast hip hop sub-genres.
Universal Senior Vice President of Production Development Ryan Jones and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.
Daviss is represented by Monster Talent, Innovative Artists, Skrzyniarz & Mallean.
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