November 20, 2012

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Lenny Kravitz is to play Marvin Gaye in a film of the last years of the late American soul singer's life.

According to The Evening Standard, the film is being made by Julien Temple, who directed Sex Pistols film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle' and 2006's Glastonbury, among many others.

It will be singer Kravitz's first major film role, having most recently appeared as a stylist in teen blockbuster The Hunger Games. Janis Gaye, the singer’s second and last wife, has said she feels “very sceptical” about the project.

The film is reported to chart the final years of Gaye's life. The soul legend lived in London in the early 1980s, when he was suffering an addiction to alcohol and was embroiled in problems relating to unpaid tax.

Gaye briefly managed to reduce his drug dependency and regain his confidence after relocating to Ostend, Belgium. He died after being shot by his own father in Los Angeles, California on March 31, 1984.

No.

Lenny has been in quite a few big films Precious & Hunger Games....

He's a decent actor, and FINE AS HELL.

But isn't he a little to young to take on Gaye? even though he look's young.

Lenny is 48. He's four years older than Marvin was at the time of his fatal shooting. I would see this movie if he accepted the starring role.

Identity said:

Lenny is 48. He's four years older than Marvin was at the time of his fatal shooting. I would see this movie if he accepted the starring role.

But i imagine they would have to show young Marvin up to his death... and not just his struggle in the 80's.

Zoe Saldana wasn't available...?

deebee said:

Zoe Saldana wasn't available...?

deebee said:

Zoe Saldana wasn't available...?

That's cold.

But yeah I don't see this happening. I'm not too excited about a Marvin Gaye film anymore.

deebee said:

Zoe Saldana wasn't available...?

Sources claim she's prepping to play Prince in the remake of Graffiti Bridge.

Identity said:

deebee said:

Zoe Saldana wasn't available...?

Sources claim she's prepping to play Prince in the remake of Graffiti Bridge.

I also love how NME fucked up in the facts department. Marvin was addicted to cocaine AND alcohol. And he died on April 1st, 1984, not March 31st. They must've read his Wiki article wrong.

Burn, Hollywood, burn!"-PE

rdhull said:

Burn, Hollywood, burn!"-PE

Yup!

I'm not sure if Lenny is the right choice, but he's fine as hell so I will be watching this when it comes out. I'm sure he will do a good job, but he's a bit too old I think.

N-O

Harlepolis said:

deebee said:

Zoe Saldana wasn't available...?

C'mon! With a little bit of makeup.....

Identity said:

deebee said:

Zoe Saldana wasn't available...?

Sources claim she's prepping to play Prince in the remake of Graffiti Bridge.

She's playing all of The Time, too. It'll be like the Hey Ya video.

Lenny is the best person they could find? I think I'll pass on this.

And what good is a Marvin Gaye movie that only focuses on the last few years of his life? I want a full-fledged biopic that covers his entire life and career!

Hmm. If it focuses just on the last years then it could make sense as a film, as opposed to all those "biopics" that are supposed to be just some sort of homages to the careers of famous artists. They're usually pretty vapid. Marvin was an interesting person and the last years of his life are what I'd choose to portray as a filmmaker over just some Motown days stuff.

Lenny? Obviously not the best choice for the role, but he could attract the audiences. He could be made to look somewhat like Marvin, but not to sound like him.

[Edited 11/20/12 13:43pm]

novabrkr said:

Hmm. If it focuses just on the last years then it could make sense as a film, as opposed to all those "biopics" that are supposed to be just some sort of homages to the careers of famous artists. They're usually pretty vapid. Marvin was an interesting person and the last years of his life are what I'd choose to portray as a filmmaker over just some Motown days stuff.

Lenny? Obviously not the best choice for the role, but he could attract the audiences. He could be made to look somewhat like Marvin, but not to sound like him.

[Edited 11/20/12 13:43pm]

There were some juicy stuff going on in Marvin's life between 1979 and 1984 but I don't think Lenny's cut for it. Jesse L. should be hired for this one. I don't think Julien has permission to use Marvin's music from his SME catalog, much like Cameron Crowe, who has a fuller-fledged Marvin bio possibly covering his early years until possibly What's Going On, doesn't have (or has) his UME catalog (Motown).

Timmy84 said:

novabrkr said:

Hmm. If it focuses just on the last years then it could make sense as a film, as opposed to all those "biopics" that are supposed to be just some sort of homages to the careers of famous artists. They're usually pretty vapid. Marvin was an interesting person and the last years of his life are what I'd choose to portray as a filmmaker over just some Motown days stuff.

Lenny? Obviously not the best choice for the role, but he could attract the audiences. He could be made to look somewhat like Marvin, but not to sound like him.

[Edited 11/20/12 13:43pm]

There were some juicy stuff going on in Marvin's life between 1979 and 1984 but I don't think Lenny's cut for it. Jesse L. should be hired for this one. I don't think Julien has permission to use Marvin's music from his SME catalog, much like Cameron Crowe, who has a fuller-fledged Marvin bio possibly covering his early years until possibly What's Going On, doesn't have (or has) his UME catalog (Motown).

Cameron Crowe would be the perfect guy to make marvin movie.

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

There were some juicy stuff going on in Marvin's life between 1979 and 1984 but I don't think Lenny's cut for it. Jesse L. should be hired for this one. I don't think Julien has permission to use Marvin's music from his SME catalog, much like Cameron Crowe, who has a fuller-fledged Marvin bio possibly covering his early years until possibly What's Going On, doesn't have (or has) his UME catalog (Motown).

Cameron Crowe would be the perfect guy to make marvin movie.

Yeah. Cameron, as far as I know, also hasn't given up on his Marvin film either.

Sorry..but as much as I dig and respect Lenny, I do NOT want to see him play Marvin.

Give it to Jessie L. Martin. He can sing, act and says he's waited to play Marvin on the big screen for over a decade.

i was looking forward to Jesse Martin (from Law & Order) to play Marvin. there was even some pics of him in Marvin's classic scully look. lenny can pull it off but... i think they feel they need a more recognizable name AND face. Martin is only a recognizable face to a small % of ppl

[Edited 11/20/12 17:30pm]

SPYZFAN1 said:

Sorry..but as much as I dig and respect Lenny, I do NOT want to see him play Marvin.

Give it to Jessie L. Martin. He can sing, act and says he's waited to play Marvin on the big screen for over a decade.

This.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Give it to Jessie L. Martin. He can sing, act and says he's waited to play Marvin on the big screen for over a decade.

Time has been cruel to Jessie; he's combating male pattern baldness. Some might say that he looks too old for the part.