In a notable development, renowned rapper Snoop Dogg has chosen emerging actor Jonathan Daviss to portray him in the forthcoming biopic. The rapper lauded Daviss, known for his role in Outer Banks, as the perfect choice during a red carpet event at the BET Awards.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Snoop Dogg stated, “Jonathan is the whole thing, man. He’s a dynamic actor, he’s a great spirit, and he’s a learner. He’s able to take things and make it better.”
The biopic, under development at Universal Pictures, will be directed by the acclaimed Craig Brewer, famed for Hustle & Flow and Coming 2 America, as reported by Deadline. This project signifies the inaugural feature following the pioneering deal between Death Row Pictures and NBCUniversal.
Snoop Dogg is co-producing the film with Brian Grazer and Sara Ramaker, the President of Death Row Pictures.
The film aims to chart Snoop Dogg’s journey from his humble beginnings in Long Beach, his ascension in the West Coast Hip-Hop scene, his breakthrough with Death Row Records and Dr. Dre, to his evolution into a global icon spanning music, television, and business.
Daviss, who earned acclaim for his role as Pope Heyward in Netflix’s Outer Banks, expressed his determination to portray the man behind the music. “Playing a character like Dogg man, he’s an icon, you know,” Daviss stated. “But I really want to get down to who he was as a person, like a loving person, and why people gravitate towards him.”
According to Snoop Dogg, what finalized the casting decision was Daviss’ energy and his natural connection with Snoop’s close circle. “To have him around me and see how he engulfs the spirit of and how my family gravitates to him,” Snoop stated. “It’s just a beautiful thing to be able to find somebody that can actually do justice to you while you still here and able to see it.”
When queried about the pressure of embodying a living legend, Daviss acknowledged the guidance of Snoop Dogg himself. “It’s a process, and I’ve just been learning and growing. I got a great teacher,” he said.
The release date for the film is yet to be declared.
