A biopic on the life of Queen Latifah is in the works, with the rapper/actress herself producing, along with fellow rapper/actor Will Smith.
Latifah and Shakim Compere will produce on behalf of Flavor Unit Entertainment, while Smith and Miguel Melendez will represent Westbrook Studios. Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon will also serve as producers for Jesse Collins Entertainment, which previously made the biopics, The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story.
The Queen Latifah movie will be the first in a number of planned biopics on the lives of hip-hop icons. More information on upcoming projects will be announced some time in the future.
Queen Latifah (real name Dana Owens) got her start rapping in the late 1980s, releasing her debut album, 1989's All Hail the Queen, at the age of 19. Not long after she broke into acting, starring in the FOX sitcom Living Single, and earning accolades from her roles on the big screen in Set It Off and Chicago, in which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
“We all came into this industry together and hip-hop has shaped each and every one of us. hip-hop’s impact has expanded beyond just music and has created a lasting impression on culture and society overall,” Queen Latifah and Compere of Flavor Unit Entertainment said in a statement. “It is a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues that have not only a shared understanding, but are able to tell these stories that were the backdrop of our lives.”
“When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special,” added Smith, “I’m thrilled to work alongside Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView, to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favorite artists and icons. There’s no better story to start with than the one of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”