Jamie Foxx to Produce Series on Marvin Gaye

By Sameer Rao Dec 01, 2016

After several others have failed to move forward with official biopics, actor and singer Jamie Foxx ("Ray") will bring Marvin Gaye‘s exceptional, troubled story to the small screen.

The Hollywood Reporter (THR) broke the news yesterday (November 30) that Foxx will executive produce a limited series on the Motown icon. "I’ve been a huge fan my whole life. His brilliance in music is unparalleled," said Foxx. "Marvin Gaye’s story has always fascinated me."

"This project will be a powerful and definitive telling of Marvin Gaye’s life story," said Gaye’s son Marvin Gaye III, one of the series’ executive producers, to THR. The still-untitled series also received the go-ahead from Motown founder and Gaye’s former brother-in-law Berry Gordy, who told THR that "Marvin was the truest artist I have ever known."

The series still awaits casting and distribution announcements. Foxx will produce the series alongside Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones of de Passe Entertainment, which previously produced various Motown concert specials in the ’80s and ’90s.

News of the series follows the July announcement that three of Gaye’s children (including Marvin III) and ex-wife Janis Gaye approved a documentary that centers on his seminal 1971 album, "What’s Going On."