Washington DC [US], June 7: Acclaimed director Craig Brewer, best known for Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name, is officially onboard to direct the highly anticipated biopic on hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg. Universal Pictures has tapped Brewer to bring the definitive story of Snoop’s journey from West Coast rap legend to global entertainment powerhouse to the big screen.
Brewer will also revise the existing script, originally penned by Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole. The film is being produced by Snoop Dogg himself, along with Brian Grazer and Sara Ramaker, president of Death Row Pictures.
This marks the first film under the Death Row Pictures banner—a new cinematic arm of the iconic Death Row Records label, which played a pivotal role in launching Snoop’s career. The move signals a broader vision for Death Row, expanding its legacy into film and television storytelling in partnership with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios.
Universal has previously seen major success in the hip-hop biopic space, notably with Straight Outta Compton, which chronicled the rise of N.W.A and earned over $200 million worldwide along with an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Brian Grazer also produced 8 Mile, the Eminem-led semi-autobiographical film that grossed $250 million and won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
The Snoop Dogg biopic is just the beginning of Death Row’s new media ventures. Beyond cinema, Snoop is set to return to NBC’s The Voice this fall for its 28th season. He will also continue to collaborate with NBCUniversal across various platforms, following his widely praised appearance during the 2024 Paris Olympics coverage.