Report: Jamie Foxx To Produce Marvin Gaye Biopic Series

11 years after taking home an Academy Award for his portrayal of music legend Ray Charles in the biographical film ‘Ray,’ singer/songwriter/actor/comedian Jamie Foxx is taking on the role of executive producer for the biopic of another legendary story: Marvin Gaye.

Coming in the form of a “limited series” about the Motown star, best known for hits ‘What’s Going On,’ ‘Sexual Healing,’ and ‘Let’s Get It On,’ the showing comes as the first authorized recount of his storied life and times.

Billboard reports:

F. Gary Gray, Cameron Crowe, James Gandolfini, Scott Rudin and actors including Jesse L. Martin and Lenny Kravitz all have tried to bring Gaye’s story to screen, but until now none had been authorized by Gaye’s family.

More inside:

The series will be co-produced by the celebrated de Passe Jones Entertainment’s Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones.

“We’ve been involved in a number of attempts to get this done, and now that we’ve been able to marshal all the forces, and Jamie’s come on board as a partner, we’re excited to get going,” says de Passe, who has executive produced multiple Motown television specials.

Even Berry Gordy (legendary founder of Motown) and Marvin Gaye’s son, Marvin Gaye III, chimed in:

“This project will be a powerful and definitive telling of Marvin Gaye’s life story,” says the singer’s son Marvin Gaye III, an executive producer on the new project, which also has the blessing of Motown founder Berry Gordy, who has served as a mentor to de Passe ever since he hired her as a creative assistant to his legendary label decades ago. “Marvin was the truest artist I have ever known,” Gordy said. “I am confident that this is the right team to bring his story to the audience in an authentic and compelling way.”