Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine To Produce Marvin Gaye Biopic
Jimmy Iovine and Dr. DreThe Music Executives Are Partnering Up To Bring The Iconic Singer’s Story To The Big Screen
MARVIN GAYE is just as relevant today as he was at the height of his career. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since his groundbreaking album, What’s Going On and sadly today we are still asking that same question. Marvin Gaye was many things; a music producer, a musician, a skilled songwriter, a sex symbol, a husband, a father—and like many other geniuses, he was also a tortured soul. But to his legion of fans the Grammy Award winner was a masterful singer and an R&B icon! As far as I am concerned, he is the best R&B/Soul male solo artist of all time!
The Washington, D.C. native who started singing in his Dad’s church, would go on to help shape the sound of Detroit’s legendary, Motown Records. Gaye released hit after hit including, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,”Got To Give It Up,” “Ain’t That Peculiar,” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” to name a few. The Soul heartthrob was also known for his duets with labelmates Diana Ross and Mary Wells, but none compared to the chemistry that he had with late, Tami Terrell. Gaye and Terrell performed together on a number of hits including, “Aint No Mountain High Enough,” “You’re All I Need To Get By” and “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing.” Tragically, on April 1, 1984, Gaye’s father, Marvin Gay Sr., fatally shot him at their family home.
“This is so personal for me. When I made my first film with my brother, we were fortunate to get “What’s Going On” into the trailer for “Menace 2 Society”, and it was a game-changer in elevating the marketing of that film. Every film of mine but the period film “From Hell” had some Marvin Gaye in it, and I’ve just always connected to him!” – Allen Hughes, to Deadline Magazine
Music executives Dr. Dre (Andre Young) and Jimmy Iovine will join filmmaker Andrew Lazar to produce the highly-anticipated biopic of Marvin Gaye’s life entitled,What’s Going On. The project, slated for a 2023 release, will be directed by Allen Hughes, who with his brother directed cult classics, Menace II Society and Poetic Justice. According to Deadline, the Marvin Gaye estate and the family of the late singer have approved the project. Janis Gaye, Marvin‘s widow, will serve as an executive producer of the film.