Jamie Foxx to produce series about Marvin Gaye
Jamie Foxx is set to produce a series about Marvin Gaye.
The 48-year-old actor and Gaye’s son Marvin Gaye III will executive produce a project about the life of the ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ hitmaker, who passed away in April 1984.
Jamie said in a statement: "I’ve been a huge fan my whole life. His brilliance in music is unparalleled. Marvin Gaye’s story has always fascinated me."
Whilst Marvin Gaye III added: "This project will be a powerful and definitive telling of Marvin Gaye’s life story."
Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., who signed Gaye to his label in 1961, also gave his blessing to the series.
He shared to the Hollywood Reporter: "Marvin was the truest artist I have ever known. I am confident that this is the right team to bring his story to the audience in an authentic and compelling way."
Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones will also be executive producing the show and are currently discussing with Sony/ATV what music they can use in the show as the company hold the rights to the late singer’s music.
Jones dubbed the series a "labour of love for three decades".
A Marvin Gaye biopic has been on the table for a long time but the different projects have suffered set backs time and time again.
In 2013, Lenny Kravitz dropped out of Julien Temple’s film ‘Sexual Healing’ but he was soon replaced by Jesse L. Martin, who had been linked to the role of Gaye in a previous version of the movie.
And earlier in 2008, F. Gary Gray – who went on to direct ‘Straight Outta Compton’ – had plans to work on a project about Gaye.
Speaking in 2015, he shared: "All the things he talked about in his albums and what is going on is relevant now. He was ahead of his time. His story is somewhat Shakespearean."
