F. Gary Gray has been tapped to direct a new biopic on music icon Marvin Gaye, who was shot to death by his father in 1984. The new film is being written by C. Gaby Mitchell (‘Blood Diamond), and will be titled ‘Marvin.’
The film unlike the James Gandolfini pic being produced about Marvin Gaye, will be based on his entire life. With Gandolfini’s only focusing on the declining, post-motown years. ‘Marvin’ will feature some of biggest hits, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ ‘Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and ‘Let’s Get it On.’ The star will lip synch to original recordings.
The film has been a passion project for F. Gary Gray, who has wanted to tell the story of Marvin Gaye’s life for a long time, but had the inability to secure the music rights. Gray told Variety, “This isn’t the average biopic of a rock star wrestling with drugs and women, but a man whose musical awakening became a call to action that questioned critical issues like a costly foreign war, recession, environment, inequality — issues that are relevant now.”
There is no word on who would play Marvin Gaye, any ideas readers?
This film sounds awesome, I’m a big Marvin Gaye fan, and I’d be looking forward to this treatment. Films like this have great potential for critical and commercial success, and it’d be great to shine light on the performers life, especially for a new generation.