Ronnie Spector gave Zendaya her blessing to play her in biopic before death
It has been officially announced that Zendaya will portray Ronnie Spector in an upcoming biopic by A24 which comes after the star grew close with the late singer before her death in 2022.
Although it has taken until 2025 for an announcement to arrive regarding Zendaya portraying The Ronettes singer in Be My Baby, the movie has been a long time coming. It was first speculated about in 2020, but Zendaya had already established a relationship with Spector before any news came to light.
Following Spector’s death in 2022, Zendaya wrote the following tribute on Instagram: “This news just breaks my heart. To speak about her as if she’s not with us feels strange as she is so incredibly full of life. There’s not a time I saw her without her iconic red lips and full teased hair, a true rockstar through and through.”
In the post, the Euphoria star also shared a Polaroid of the pair dated December 2018, almost two years before the general public was informed of any information regarding the biopic.
Her tribute continued: “Ronnie, being able to know you has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Thank you for sharing your life with me, I could listen to your stories for hours and hours. Thank you for your unmeasured talent, your unwavering love for performing, your strength, resilience and your grace. There is absolutely nothing that could dim the light you cast.”
Zendaya concluded: “I admire you so much and am so grateful for the bond we share. You are a magical force of greatness and the world of music will never be the same. I wish everyone got to experience you the way I did. We celebrate your beautiful life and give you all the flowers you so rightfully deserve. Rest in great power Ronnie. I hope to make you proud.”
The film is set to be based on Spector’s 1990 memoir Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life as a Fabulous Ronette. It will reportedly focus on her abusive marriage at the hands of convicted murderer Phil Spector, which she detailed at length in the autobiography.
There is no timeline for when Be My Baby will enter production due to Zendaya and director Jenkins’ busy schedules. Her projects include Shrek 5, Spider-Man 4, and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the latter of which is currently shooting.
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