Lenny Kravitz to play Marvin Gaye in biopic

NEW YORK (AP) — Lenny Kravitz has signed on for his first leading film role, playing singer Marvin Gaye in a biopic that will be shot next year.

The rocker's publicist Carleen Donovan confirmed the news Tuesday. Kravitz has played supporting roles in the past, including a small part in "The Hunger Games."

Rolling Stone first reported details about the 48-year-old performer's part in the film, directed by Julien Temple.

The magazine says the "Are You Gonna Go My Way" singer will portray Gaye during the 1980s when he was fighting his addictions and attempting to restart his career. Gaye died in 1984 after being shot by his father.

http://news.yahoo.com/lenny-kravitz-play-marvin-gaye-biopic-191820643.html

Lenny Kravitz to Play Marvin Gaye in Biopic

Singer takes first lead role in film set to start shooting next year

November 27, 2012 12:05 PM ET

Lenny Kravitz has signed on to play Marvin Gaye in the upcoming Julien Temple-directed biopic of the R&B great, a rep for Kravitz confirms to Rolling Stone.

The film is set to start filming next year and will focus on Gaye's time in Europe in the early 1980s when the singer was trying to curb his addictions and restart his career with the help of British promoter Freddy Cousaert. While there have been previous attempts at Gaye biopics, insiders report that this one has secured music rights.

The role will mark Kravitz's first leading turn, though he's previously played supporting parts in The Hunger Games and Lee Daniels' Precious. Kravitz is also set to appear in the The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as well as The Butler, a new White House drama from Daniels.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.c...z2DSHondT0
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[Edited 11/27/12 12:03pm]

DUPE http://prince.org/msg/8/390013

Remind me again why there needs to be a Marvin movie.

scriptgirl said:

Remind me again why there needs to be a Marvin movie.

Why dont they just get REAL ACTORS to play these parts. They always run and get no acting musicians. Lenny is alright but they could do a little more deep searching for a actor that resembles him and that is well seasoned.

Thing is I was willing to think it'd work with Jesse L. Martin. Time will tell what Lenny would do with it but it probably won't be successful. Most biopics aren't.

The biopics where the person who is being portrayed had a hand in the script writing/casting usually are the ones that turn out the best. Its to much controversy around certain aspects of his life for the movie to not turn into a sensationalize depiction. If his family isnt involved, why make the film without their blessings?

Lenny is 48!!!!!??? Dayum he is fine as hell for 48

mjscarousal said:

The biopics where the person who is being portrayed had a hand in the script writing/casting usually are the ones that turn out the best. Its to much controversy around certain aspects of his life for the movie to not turn into a sensationalize depiction. If his family isnt involved, why make the film without their blessings?

Lenny is 48!!!!!??? Dayum he is fine as hell for 48

Janis Gaye has been open about how she feels about the film already. She don't think it would do Marvin or his family any wonders... I'm sure Marvin's surviving sisters, children and relatives would feel the same way.

Timmy84 said:

Thing is I was willing to think it'd work with Jesse L. Martin. Time will tell what Lenny would do with it but it probably won't be successful. Most biopics aren't.

Speaking of Marvin biopics, what ever happened to that project? That one had me interested. At least he had some resemblence to the man and is an experienced actor.

Musicslave said:

Timmy84 said:

Thing is I was willing to think it'd work with Jesse L. Martin. Time will tell what Lenny would do with it but it probably won't be successful. Most biopics aren't.

Speaking of Marvin biopics, what ever happened to that project? That one had me interested. At least he had some resemblence to the man and is an experienced actor.

That's what I wanna know... either the director quit the project or they just assigned it to Julien Temple. That was another post-Motown biopic in the works... but it may have been a different post-Motown product. I'm sure if they show Lenny performing as Marvin, they have him sing the Motown stuff because he did a tour of London during that period. Jesse L. once said the possibility of his Marvin project coming out was almost second to none, meaning it wouldn't ever come out, which was sad. James Gandolfini was gonna be on it too as Freddy Couseart. I have to admit when I saw those two names, I was actually EXCITED about the film. Now, not so much.

Timmy, the reason behind my comment is that no one will ever adequately be able to portray the icon that Marvin was. That is all I am saying.

scriptgirl said:

Timmy, the reason behind my comment is that no one will ever adequately be able to portray the icon that Marvin was. That is all I am saying.

I agree and his family dont agree with this so I am not sure why they are still trying to push a movie.

scriptgirl said:

Timmy, the reason behind my comment is that no one will ever adequately be able to portray the icon that Marvin was. That is all I am saying.

Oh. I thought you was just trashing why anyone would wanna make a film about him. But I got you now.

Lenny Kravitz is a ridiculous choice to play Marvin And if this movie is only gonna focus on the last few years of Marvin's life,I'm gonna have to avoid it.Such a shame that Marvin's complete story (which is really interesting) won't be brought to the big screen.

Saw Hunger Games. He can't act. He sounds like Vin Diesal when he acts.

From what I heard, the Jesse L. Martin/James Galdolfini film fell thru the cracks. There was an issue with the music publishing and a real script was never written.

I still can't see Lenny playing Marvin. He looks nothing like him and really can't be made over to look like Marvin (I don't care how much makeup you put on him)... I wouldn't be able to stop thinking; "This is the 'Mama Said' guy" while watching him sing "I Want You".

I remember when the rumours kicked in about a Marvin bio-pic back in 1993 and Janis wanted Denzel to play him. At this point, they really need to give it to Jesse. I'm sure he would kill that role.

SPYZFAN1 said:

From what I heard, the Jesse L. Martin/James Galdolfini film fell thru the cracks. There was an issue with the music publishing and a real script was never written.

I still can't see Lenny playing Marvin. He looks nothing like him and really can't be made over to look like Marvin (I don't care how much makeup you put on him)... I wouldn't be able to stop thinking; "This is the 'Mama Said' guy" while watching him sing "I Want You".

I remember when the rumours kicked in about a Marvin bio-pic back in 1993 and Janis wanted Denzel to play him. At this point, they really need to give it to Jesse. I'm sure he would kill that role.

I remember those rumors as well.

I remember hearing about a script from 1997 that Marvin's family was really upset about.In this script,Marvin was snorting coke every five minutes It was supposedly a very rough,negative look at Marvin's life.

Remeber when Bobby Brown was going around,saying that he was gonna play Marvin Gaye in a movie? They would be better off using a real actor.

I think the family actually does have a say in how the film goes. If they see the script about this one, they'd probably raise hell about it too. Something tells me they raise similar hell about the Jesse L. one. Who knows with this one? I read somewhere that Cameron Crowe actually did win rights to Marvin's Motown catalog to do a fuller bio... then turned around and say there was trouble finalizing the licensing.

mjscarousal said:

Why dont they just get REAL ACTORS to play these parts. They always run and get no acting musicians. Lenny is alright but they could do a little more deep searching for a actor that resembles him and that is well seasoned.

THIS. The out of touch Hollywood execs assume that the movie-going public would rather see a big name rockstar play these kind of roles instead of a no-name, unknown actor who can actually act.

Posted last week here.

Timmy84 said:

Thing is I was willing to think it'd work with Jesse L. Martin. Time will tell what Lenny would do with it but it probably won't be successful. Most biopics aren't.

There was one in the works starring, Jesse as Gaye, and John Legend as Smokey. It came to a hault, when Berry Gordy refused to allow them use of Marvin's Motown catalog. This meant that they would have to concentrate on his life after motown, (which Berry had no musical say) this is probably why this new movie concentrates on his 80's period. Frankly, I think it's time that a movie about Marvin be made, especially since one about Sam Coke, will NEVER get made.

don't think it will go too well

shorttrini said:

Timmy84 said:

Thing is I was willing to think it'd work with Jesse L. Martin. Time will tell what Lenny would do with it but it probably won't be successful. Most biopics aren't.

There was one in the works starring, Jesse as Gaye, and John Legend as Smokey. It came to a hault, when Berry Gordy refused to allow them use of Marvin's Motown catalog. This meant that they would have to concentrate on his life after motown, (which Berry had no musical say) this is probably why this new movie concentrates on his 80's period. Frankly, I think it's time that a movie about Marvin be made, especially since one about Sam Coke, will NEVER get made.

Good fucking point...

Jesse L. Martin..................BETTER CHOICE!!!!!!!

In the other Lenny playing Marvin film, didn't someone say Jesse was looking too old for the part now?

how come the sam cooke movie won't get made

scriptgirl said:

how come the sam cooke movie won't get made

Too much time, music publishing is locked and the Cooke family probably wouldn't think anyone would get him right.

Timmy84 said:

scriptgirl said:

how come the sam cooke movie won't get made

Too much time, music publishing is locked and the Cooke family probably wouldn't think anyone would get him right.

Plus, there is too much controversy surrounding his death. At least we KNOW how and WHO, killed Marvin.

shorttrini said:

Timmy84 said:

Too much time, music publishing is locked and the Cooke family probably wouldn't think anyone would get him right.

Plus, there is too much controversy surrounding his death. At least we KNOW how and WHO, killed Marvin.

Yep.