Warner Brothers has reportedly acquired a biopic on the life of Marvin Gaye, set to be titled What’s Going On. At the helm of the film is director Allen Hughes (Menace 2 Society, Dead Presidents), who will produce the film alongside Dr. Dre and his Beats partner Jimmy Iovine.
According to Deadline, WB acquired the film’s script from poet-playwright Marcus Gardley, who wrote the script for The Color Purple musical for Warner Bros. The film also reportedly has the full cooperation of Motown and Gaye’s estate, allowing for the full use of his extensive catalog of music.
“This is so personal for me,” Hughes told Deadline. “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. He’s the artist’s artist, with this ethereal voice that just comes out of the heavens. There have been plenty of great artists, and then Marvin, in his own lane.”
Hughes continued on his admiration for Gaye’s talent,
When you listen, in one measure you feel like you’ve read a novel. Such a rich inner life in that voice, heavenly but riddled with pain, the agony and ecstasy at the same time. When he gained his independence in the ’70s, with that album What’s Going On, then Trouble Man and Let’s Get It On, I Want You and his final masterpiece Here, My Dear, when it comes to vocal orchestrations and the way he layered his voice, he’s Mozart.
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The studio has reportedly bankrolled $80 million for the Marvin Gaye biopic, which Deadline claims to be the largest sum ever allocated for a Black music biopic. Along with the singer’s widow, Jan Gaye, and Suzanne de Passe on board as executive producers, the film’s production team will begin casting for the lead role. The film is slated to begin production next year with a 2023 release in theaters and on HBO Max.
In regards to casting Gaye, Hughes said that there is simply no mimicking the singer’s iconic voice.
“Marvin’s voice is so singular that 90% of it has to be the real guy, but hopefully we can find an actor who can tie it up with ligamental scenes, and live stuff where you do a blend,” he said. “But mostly I want to honor that singular voice, and I don’t want to mimic it. But there are techniques I’ve been exploring audio-wise in live performance and recording in the studio. I’ve taken all those multi-tracks apart with Dr. Dre and it has revealed a lot, but we don’t want to play any tricks with what is probably the purest voice of all time.”
[H/T Deadline]