Marvin gaye biopic

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And I can’t play that character 100%. However, he also suffered from serious substance abuse issues that led to his adult life being plagued by paranoia and depression, including multiple suicide attempts, before he was ultimately shot and killed by his own father in April 1984 at the age of just 44.

The movie will reportedly be one of the costliest musical biopics ever made, and the single most expensive focusing on an African American artist, with the budget pegged at upwards of $80 million.

marvin gaye biopic

It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man,” the former “Politically Incorrect” emcee said. Every film of mine but the period film From Hell had some Marvin Gaye in it, and I’ve just always connected to him. I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand,” Howard went on. A limited series starring Jamie Foxx and feature-length iterations with Lauren Goodman, F.

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. James Baldwin. “I’m asking Quincy, ‘I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay’ and I’m like, ‘Was he gay?’ And Quincy’s like, ‘Yes,'” Howard recounted.

As a result, the Iron Man actor said he “could not” play the role.

I would cut my lips off.

“Do what you love to do but don’t aim it at me. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Andrew Lazar set to produce, per a report from Deadline. According to Rolling Stone, Lenny Kravitz claims he was approached for the role, but pulled out before the acquisition by Warner Bros.

But crucially, the deal ensures that the filmmakers have secured the rights to Gaye's discography from his estate, and therefore his actual music will feature prominently.

The casting search is set to get underway imminently with an eye to production starting next year, and the lead role in What's Going On possesses the potential to put whoever ends up winning it into the thick of the 2023 awards season conversation.

According to reports, What's Going On will begin production next year with an intended 2023 release both in theaters and on HBO Max.

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Terrence Howard passed on Marvin Gaye biopic because he ‘would’ve had’ to kiss a man: ‘I would cut my lips off’

What’s going on?

Terrence Howard said he turned down playing Marvin Gaye in a Lee Daniels-directed biopic after being told that the late singer was gay.

Because I don’t fake it.”

The “Real Time” host said he “couldn’t kiss a man either.” 

Howard continued, “That would f–k me. Dre has been attached to the film for three years, since first outlining his intentions to develop an authorized retelling of the soul singer's life in June 2018. The subject's widow Jan Gaye is on board as an executive producer alongside Suzanne de Passe, while the Marvel Gaye estate and Motown will both be involved.

If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”

Meanwhile, Maher paused, awkwardly chuckling, and added, “It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man.”

“That’s fine, do what you love to do, but don’t do it at me, don’t aim it at me,” Howard concluded, “and I can’t play that character 100%, I can’t.

Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Andrew Lazar from a script by poet-playwright Marcus Gardley (2023’s The Color Purple).

Marvin Gaye,” he added.

Terrence Howard Turned Down A Lee Daniels-Directed Marvin Gaye Biopic Because He “Could Not” Kiss A Man: “I Would Cut My Lips Off”

Academy Award-nominated actor Terrence Howard revealed he turned down a Lee Daniels-helmed biopic about legendary Motown musician Marvin Gaye because it would require him to explore the Prince of Soul’s rumored homosexuality.

Speaking with Bill Maher on his Club Random podcast, the Empire star recalled “the biggest mistake I made in my career,” which was rejecting Smokey Robinson’s offer to play him in a biopic after the King of Motown invited him out to dinner.

and given a huge budget of $80 million, which Deadline claims is "the biggest budget ever for an African American music biopic." 

Allen Hughes, the director of "Menace 2 Society" and a big Gaye fan, has come on board to direct the movie, which is still seeking a star to portray the soul singer. This started with Dre, saying, "Let’s do this together", and then Jimmy came on, and Andrew Lazar, and we worked with the estate, with Motown and some other things that needed to be tied down, and we got it done."

What's Going On isn't being designed to follow the standard biopic formula, but will instead look to create a musical and theatrical experience threaded together by the life of one of history's all-time great singers and songwriters.

Most recently, Deadline exclusively reported in 2021 that Warner Bros. It will be available both in theaters and on HBO Max.

Marvin Gaye Biopic Coming From Director Allen Hughes

Allen Hughes will direct Marvin Gaye biopic What's Going On for Warner Bros.

Coming from a poverty-stricken background and abusive childhood, Gaye became the first Black singer to sign a million-dollar record deal and found massive success as a global superstar. At the time, he said, he was in the middle of talks for the Gaye biopic and “was being faithful to Lee Daniels because I had given him my word as man.”

Howard said the news “broke [Robinson’s] heart,” while host Maher remarked that the exploration of Gaye’s life would have been “much more interesting” because “there’s a lot more drama,” given the What’s Going On artist’s killing by his father.

According to the report, the project has been acquired by Warner Bros.