Zendaya to star in Barry Jenkins’ biopic on Ronnie Spector
Zendaya is set to star in a new A24 biopic of legendary singer Ronnie Spector which Barry Jenkins will direct.
A new report from Deadline states that Jenkins and Zendaya had been plotting to work together on a project for an extensive period before deciding to bring the life of Spector to the screen. The upcoming movie will feature a screenplay by Dave Kajganich.
The new movie is set to be titled Be My Baby and Kajganich, who has previously worked with director Luca Guadagnino, will base the screenplay on Spector’s 1990 memoir Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life as a Fabulous Ronette.
According to Deadline, the team behind the film “agreed on a version of Spector’s story that could immerse audiences in what the singer’s life with the troubled producer Phil Spector felt like rather than a traditional cradle to the grave biopic.”
The Ronettes singer was one of the most gifted singers of her generation, delivering classic tracks to the world such as ‘Be My Baby’ and ‘Baby I Love You’. While her spectacular career will undoubtedly be covered in Be My Baby, the focus will largely be on the abusive marriage she suffered at the hands of producer Phil Spector.
The couple married in 1968 before divorcing in 1974. In her memoir, she opened up about the torment that occurred while they were married and alleged that she was essentially trapped as a prisoner in the house which led to her developing alcohol issues.
Phil Spector was later sentenced to 19 years in prison for the murder of actor Lana Clarkson in 2009 and died in prison in 2021 aged 81.
As Zendaya and Jenkins both have other projects on the horizon, it’s unknown when Be My Baby will enter production. Her roles include Shrek 5, Spider-Man 4 and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Meanwhile, Jenkins is set to helm the sci-fi movie The Natural Order with Glenn Powell.
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