Zendaya In Talks to Star in New Ronnie Spector Biopic
Zendaya has had quite the year. From starring in HBO's Euphoria to becoming the youngest woman ever to win the Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy Award to her upcoming role in the Denise Villenueve-directed Dune, the 24-year-old is, without a doubt, Hollywood's it-girl. Now, she may have yet another venture on deck: a Ronnie Spector biopic.
Spector is best known for leading the 1960s girl group, the Ronettes, where she performed alongside her older sister, Estelle Bennett and their cousin, Nedra Talley. The group became one of the most popular bands of the '60s with hits including, "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You," "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up," and "Walking in the Rain," which won a 1965 Grammy Award. She also had a solo career, which peaked in the 1980s when she appeared as the featured vocalist on Eddie Money's hit song, "Take Me Home Tonight."
The movie will be produced by A24, which also produces Euphoria. Here is everything else we know so far about the upcoming feature.
The movie will be based on Ronnie Spector's life story and memoir.
According to Deadline, A24 just closed a deal obtaining the rights to Spector’s life story and for Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, Or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette, the 1990 memoir she wrote with Emmy winner Vince Waldron.
Spector, who is now 77 years old, was a music industry pioneer. Growing up in Spanish Harlem, she started the Ronettes in 1963. That year, the group signed with record producer Phil Spector, who later became Ronnie's husband, and released their breakout hit "Be My Baby." Reportedly, as Ronnie claims in her book, her marriage became abusive, and Phil even threatened her life. After leaving Phil, Ronnie fought to earn back the rights to her music from her husband. She eventually remarried, and is still with her second husband, Jonathan Greenfield. In 2007, the singer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Spector chose Zendaya for the role.
While Zendaya is still in talks for the part, she is Spector's first choice to star. According to Deadline, Spector hand-selected Zendaya to play her in her early years. Alongside A24, New Regency will also play a hand in the feature.
The movie's script is currently being sorted out, but the studios are in early conversations with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury to pen the feature. She was awarded the prestigious award for her play, Fairview.
Zendaya is set to co-produce the movie, alongside Marc Platt, who is currently also producing The Little Mermaid, Dear Evan Hansen, and Wicked film adaptations. Spector's husband and manager, Jonathan Greenfield, and Spector herself will be the executive producers.
The movie does not yet have a release date.
Given that there is currently no script or official screenwriter, it may be a while before the movie heads to the big screen. We'll keep updating this page with more news on the feature.
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