The upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic will arrive in cinemas on 6 August 2027, with Jonathan Daviss set to portray the rap icon in a film charting his rise from the streets of Long Beach to global superstardom.
The film, produced by Universal Pictures, will be directed by Craig Brewer and marks the first feature from Death Row Pictures, the production company launched after Snoop acquired Death Row Records in 2022.
Jonathan Daviss to play Snoop Dogg
Daviss, best known for his role as Pope Heyward in Netflix’s Outer Banks, will play Snoop Dogg during the defining years of his career.
The biopic will follow the rapper’s journey from Long Beach, California, through his breakthrough at Death Row Records in the early 1990s, where he worked alongside hip hop pioneers including Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur.
Snoop’s debut album, Doggystyle, was released in 1993 and became one of the defining rap albums of the decade. He has since become one of the best-selling hip hop artists in history.
Snoop Dogg wanted the right team behind the film
The project has been in development for several years, with Snoop first announced as a producer in 2022.
Explaining why he took his time bringing the story to the screen, he said:
“I waited a long time to put this project together because I wanted to choose the right director, the perfect writer, and the greatest movie company I could partner with that could understand the legacy that I’m trying to portray on screen, and the memory I’m trying to leave behind.
“It was the perfect marriage. It was holy matrimony, not holy macaroni.”
The film is being produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Sara Ramaker, president of Death Row Pictures.
Universal backs another hip hop biopic
Universal Pictures previously found major success with Straight Outta Compton, the N.W.A biopic that earned an Academy Award nomination and grossed more than $200 million worldwide.
Donna Langley, Chairman of Universal Pictures, believes Snoop’s story deserves the big-screen treatment.
“Snoop Dogg’s life and legacy make him one of the most exciting and influential icons in popular culture.
“We met with Snoop shortly after he acquired Death Row Records and had the opportunity to hear his story in his own words. We are humbled to be able to create the lasting document of this singular artist.”
From rap star to cultural icon
Beyond music, Snoop Dogg has built one of the most diverse careers in entertainment. Alongside dozens of hit singles and albums, he has appeared in films including Training Day and Half Baked, published the cookbook From Crook to Cook and launched businesses spanning cannabis, media and sport.
