‘Outer Banks' Actor Jonathan Daviss to Star as Snoop Dogg in Universal Biopic
Universal Pictures' Snoop Dogg biopic movie is blazing a path toward bringing the rap legend's life to the screen.
The feature project from director Craig Brewer has cast Outer Banks actor Jonathan Daviss in the lead role. Brewer (Coming 2 America, Hustle & Flow) is revising the script that was previously penned by Joe Robert Cole and tells the story of Calvin Broadus Jr.'s eventful journey along his path to fame as Snoop Dogg.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
'Boy George & Culture Club' Review: An Affectionate Look at the '80s Band and Its Flamboyant Frontman That Entertains but Treads Too Carefully
Sony Music Publishing Acquires Hipgnosis Songs Group
Finneas Says He Was Tear-Gassed at Los Angeles ICE Protest
Producers include Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. This will be the first project through Death Row Pictures' overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. Universal senior vp of production development Ryan Jones oversees the feature for the studio.
Davis is known for his breakthrough role as Pope Heyward on the Netflix adventure series Outer Banks, which has been picked up for a fifth and final season. The 25-year-old actor also appeared in the Netflix feature Do Revenge.
Snoop Dogg is a 17-time Grammy-nominated artist who has also become a television and film mainstay. His debut album, Doggystyle, debuted in 1993 from Death Row Records and counts Dr. Dre as the sole producer, spawning the hit singles 'What's My Name?' and 'Gin and Juice.'
Music biopics remain a top priority for Hollywood following such recent success stories as Paramount's Bob Marley: One Love and Searchlight's Timothée Chalamet-led A Complete Unknown, with the latter Bob Dylan-focused feature landing eight Oscar nominations. Sony's four-film project about the Beatles is set for theatrical release in April 2028, while the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere debuts this fall.
Daviss is represented by Monster Talent, Innovative Artists and Skrzyniarz & Mallean.
Deadline was first to report on Daviss' casting.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT
'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
Jamie Foxx cries in BET Awards speech about health, credits daughters with recovery
Jamie Foxx cries in BET Awards speech about health, credits daughters with recovery Show Caption Hide Caption Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz talk returning to 'Back in Action' set Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz tell USA TODAY what it was like to return to shooting 'Back in Action' after pausing for Foxx's health scare. Two years out from his stroke and subsequent coma, Jamie Foxx emotionally thanked his sister and daughters for getting him through the dark period. Daughters Corinne Foxx, 31, and Anelise Bishop, 16, – like their dad – were in tears as they were seated in the 2025 BET Awards crowd. Anelise's chin trembled as she looked up at her dad on stage, who accepted one of the night's Ultimate Icon Awards. "When I saw that in memoriam, I was like, 'Man, that could've been me.' But I don't know why I went through what I went through, but I know that my second chance, I'm not going to turn it down," said Foxx, 57. He went on to thank sister Deidre Dixon, a Hollywood hair and makeup artist, because she "made sure that she took care of her brother" in spring 2023. Then he shouted out his eldest daughter, who was the one sharing updates on his health at the time. "My beautiful daughter, Corinne, I cannot say enough about you," Foxx said. "You've always taken a backseat to everything. But when you needed to drive it, you drove. And you made sure I was here. And at a certain point, I'm going to stop crying, but I'm not going to stop yet." Jamie Foxx speaks out: Actor reveals his mysterious illness in Netflix special Jamie Foxx daughters sob during speech as he reveals how Anelise helped recovery with guitar Foxx's lengthy speech also included a story about how his younger daughter helped with his recovery in the hospital. "Anelise Estelle Foxx, my baby with the big hair. She hides under that hair because she's got something special. You're so beautiful, man," Foxx said. "When I was fighting for my life in there, I've got to say this. They said, 'We're going to lose him because his vitals are bad.' And I didn't want my 14 year old to see me like that. But Anelise overheard the conversation and she snuck into my hospital room with her guitar and said, 'I know what my Daddy needs,'" he continued. Foxx recounted, "And as she played the guitar, my vitals (improved). And I realized God was in her guitar. The nurses ran in and said, 'What did they give him?' My daughter said, 'Shh, I've got him.'" What happened to Jamie Foxx? Foxx explained in his 2024 Netflix special that he'd experienced "a bad headache" on April 11, 2023. Moments after he'd asked for an aspirin, he lost consciousness — and now doesn't remember the ensuing 20 days. During this comatose period, Foxx was taken to a doctor, who administered a cortisone shot and sent him home. Then a follow-up appointment with a doctor revealed Foxx had experienced a stroke caused by a brain bleed. The exact cause of the stroke was not determined. Jamie Foxx on medical emergency: 'I was gone for 20 days' Speaking to a group outside of a hotel in Phoenix, actor Jamie Foxx revealed more details about a medical emergency he experienced last year. Jamie Foxx, Stevie Wonder joke about blindness With Foxx's speech lasting around 10 minutes, music legend and award presenter Stevie Wonder wandered back to Foxx, who was standing center stage, to gently encourage him to start wrapping it up. After Foxx noted he'd almost elbowed Wonder behind him, he started walking around the microphone with the trophy outstretched (which was not how Wonder was moving on stage). "How did he know?" Foxx said. Wonder joked earlier in the night that he watched and edited the tribute package for Foxx and had ribbed Foxx for trying to connect with him as a blind artist when he portrayed Ray Charles in the Oscar-winning movie "Ray." Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
Cosmopolitan
19 minutes ago
- Cosmopolitan
The Astroworld Tragedy: the true story behind the Travis Scott festival disaster where 10 people died
It was meant to be the festival of a lifetime; Travis Scott was performing on the large, mountain-esque 'Chills' stage, a lauded homecoming at the third Astroworld festival. Launched in 2018 and named after Scott's third album, the two-day music festival was planned as the ultimate celebration of Houston's hip-hop culture, and Scott's love of his hometown. While the festival had been gaining in popularity, no-one could have predicted that its latest (and which soon proved to be final) outing would have resulted in one of the worst US concert tragedies in history. Now Netflix's latest series, Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy, speaks to witnesses and emergency responders who were there on the day and looks to examine how an exciting evening became a living nightmare, resulting in 10 deaths, and over 300 causalities. Astroworld Festival was the brainchild of psychedelic rapper Travis Scott, and took place annually. It was based in NRG Park in Houston, Texas, and named after a former theme-park that locals enjoyed going to in their childhoods. Since launching in 2018, the festival had steadily grown in popularity, and was set to be bigger than ever in 2021; the event was now spanning two days, and had artists such as Tame Impala, Sza and Bad Bunny on the line-up. Tickets sold out in just 30 minutes. Astroworld was now also comprised of two stages: the 'Thrills' stage for supporting artists, and the 'Chills' stage, which was specifically for Scott's headline performance. It was at the Chills stage where the crowd crush occurred. Scott is a 34-year-old rapper, known for his psychedelic and intense performances, who has had five tracks hit number one in the United States. As well as working with huge hip-hop goliaths such as Kid Cudi, Scott is also known for dating Kylie Jenner between 2017 and 2023. The pair share two children together. While 50,000 people were thought to be in attendance, there were reports of people trying to rush the gates as early as 2pm, with eyewitnesses reporting people being trampled on. However, it wasn't until later in the evening that casualties began to happen. A timer appeared on stage counting down the 30 minutes before Scott performed. It was when Scott appeared, slightly later than scheduled at 9pm (he was reportedly meant to start at 8.45pm) that members of the crowd pressed forward and surged from the sides, causing a crush. Many people fell and others struggled to breathe as it was so tightly packed. Describing the carnage, festival survivor Ayden Cruz remembers being pushed over by the crowds. In the documentary Astroworld: Countdown to Tragedy, he recalls climbing up to a camera operator and begging them to 'stop the show' as people were becoming increasingly crushed. While Scott did stop performing numerous times to flag that people in the crowd had passed out and needed medical assistance, his show continued on until between 10.10pm and 10.15pm, according to witnesses, after he performed with Drake. However, a mass casualty incident was called from 9.38pm. Numerous festivalgoers tried to halt proceedings, however, none succeeded in getting Scott to stop. Eight people died on the night in hospital, while a further two people died in hospital. The youngest person who passed away was just nine, while the oldest was 27. Two high schoolers are listed as victims. It was ruled that all 10 people died from 'compression asphyxia' – this is where external force limits the ability of the chest to expand, cutting off oxygen. The list of victims are as follows. It wasn't until many of the 50,000 festivalgoers went home that they realised there had been fatalities in the crowds. In the immediate aftermath, people were looking to see who was responsible for the deaths. Scott took to X to say he was 'absolutely devastated' at learning of the incident following the concert. He also claimed that he was not aware of what was happening below the stage at the time. 'I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need,' he wrote. 'Thank you Houston PD, Fire Department and NRG Park for their immediate response and support.' Then-girlfriend Kylie Jenner also deleted Instagram stories from the event, and sent 'thoughts and prayers' to those impacted. A Texas state task force looked into what happened at Astroworld, which emphasised the need for adequate training for security and event staff. Astroworld organisers were criticised for a lack of preparedness among security contracted to work the event. Meanwhile, the head of safety at Astroworld, Seyth Boardman, wrote to the Texas festival's operations director expressing concern about the size of the stage. Per documents seen by the BBC, Boardman wrote: 'I feel like there is no way we are going to fit 50,000 people in front of that stage.' Numerous lawsuits were filed by victims and survivors' families, alleging a lack of adequate safety protocols and emergency response to Scott, Live Nation and other defendants. However, by June 2024, all 10 wrongful death lawsuits had been settled out of court by Live Nation, Travis Scott, and other defendants for undisclosed amounts. Scott was amongst six individuals who faced criminal charges related to the deaths of 10 people at the 2021 Astroworld Festival – however, a Texan grand jury found no single individual was criminally responsible for the death. 'In this instance, the grand jury of the 228th district court of Harris County found that no crime did occur,' county District Attorney Kim Ogg told reporters in 2023. 'That no single individual was criminally responsible.' The festival was cancelled following reports of deaths. It has not been revived since. Speaking about the event, Scott told GQ in 2023: '[I want people] to know I have pain too. I have concerns, things that I think about, and the things I see on a day-to-day basis I think about them. And every day I want to find change in the things, to make things better, make myself better. It's just like: I go through things like everyone else.' Scott also launched Project HEAL, aimed at supporting community-based programs and enhancing safety measures at large-scale events. Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift files restraining order against man who claims she had his baby
Taylor Swift has been granted a temporary restraining order against a Colorado man who insisted she's the mother of his child. The pop star filed the order alleging that Brian Jason Wagner "made various statements about living at my property"; "being in a relationship with me"; believing I am the mother of his son"; and "needing to see me in person", according to documents obtained by Page Six. "All of which are untrue and disconnected from reality." Swift claimed Wagner first turned up at her Los Angeles home in 2024 and returned several times that July. "On at least one of the occasions in July 2024, Mr Wagner was carrying a glass bottle that could have been used as a weapon," the documents read. The Lover singer claimed Wagner again visited her home in May 2025, stating he "was there checking on a friend (again, this is entirely untrue)". Swift's security team uncovered that Wagner had been in jail and had allegedly written lengthy letters to the Grammy winner about his infatuation with her, a romantic relationship with her (which does not exist), and other fabricated stories about his involvement in Swift's personal life. The filing states that Wagner allegedly found a way to put the Cruel Summer singer's address on his driver's license and attempted to send her mail to his home. The temporary restraining order was granted on Monday and will expire on 30 June.
