A major biopic about one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures is officially on the way. Universal Pictures has announced that filmmaker Craig Brewer, best known for Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name, will direct the upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, a feature-length film chronicling the life and legacy of the West Coast rap legend.
Currently untitled, the film is being revised by Brewer, who is working from an earlier script by Joe Robert Cole, co-writer of Black Panther. The movie promises to explore Snoop’s rise from Long Beach streets to global superstardom, capturing the highs and lows of his decades-spanning career in music, film, and pop culture.
While the cast and release date are still under wraps, the project is already generating serious buzz—thanks to its high-powered producing team. The biopic is being produced by Snoop Dogg himself, alongside Brian Grazer and Sara Ramaker, the president of Death Row Pictures. This film also marks the first project under Death Row Pictures’ overall production deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios.
Brewer & Snoop: A Perfect Creative Pairing?
Director Craig Brewer is no stranger to stories grounded in music and culture. He earned acclaim for Hustle & Flow, which earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Terrence Howard and won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. More recently, he teamed up with Eddie Murphy for Dolemite Is My Name, another music-based biopic that received critical acclaim. Brewer’s background makes him a fitting choice to bring Snoop’s compelling and rebellious story to the big screen.
With Brewer now actively revising the script, fans can expect a biopic that digs deep into Snoop’s world—not just his music, but his personal evolution, controversies, and lasting influence. According to reports, Ryan Jones, Universal’s senior vice president of production development, is overseeing the project at the studio level.
Snoop Dogg’s Ongoing Universal Partnership
This film continues Snoop’s growing relationship with NBCUniversal. The rapper is set to return as a coach on NBC’s The Voice for its 28th season this fall. He also played a major role in NBC and Peacock’s coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where his witty commentary and viral moments kept audiences entertained worldwide.
Snoop is no stranger to the big screen, either. His likeness has previously been portrayed by actor LaKeith Stanfield in Universal’s 2015 hit Straight Outta Compton, which grossed over $200 million globally. That film’s success set a new standard for hip-hop biopics, and now Universal is betting that Snoop’s story can capture audiences again.
Hip-Hop Biopics Are Having a Moment
Hollywood is currently in a major biopic boom, especially around music legends. Recent hits like Bob Marley: One Love and A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan-focused film starring Timothée Chalamet, have reignited interest in telling the life stories of influential musicians. Add to that Sony’s ambitious four-part Beatles project and an upcoming Bruce Springsteen film, and it’s clear the appetite is strong.
With Snoop Dogg’s life offering everything from early Death Row days to mainstream fame and cultural dominance, his story is more than ripe for the big screen. Stay tuned—because this is one biopic that’s guaranteed to make noise.