Queen Latifah Teams Up with Will Smith for a Biopic About Her Life and Career

Queen Latifah’s life story is moving to the big screen!

On Thursday, September 19, Latifah, 54, and her Flavor Unit Entertainment partner Shakim Compere announced that they will produce a biopic based on Chicago star’s life as part of a larger deal with Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment to produce a number of biopics based on the lives and careers of hip-hop artists.

Will Smith will also work on the film as a producer through Westbrook Studios.

“We all came into this industry together and Hip Hop has shaped each and every one of us. Hip Hop’s influence has extended beyond music and left a lasting impression on culture and society at large,” Latifah, 54, and Compere said in a statement. “It’s a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues who not only have a common understanding, but are able to tell these stories that have been the backdrop of our lives.”

Queen Latifah and partner Eboni Nichols are making a rare red carpet appearance at the 2024 Met Gala.

Queen Latifah July 25, 2024

Julien M. Hekimian/Getty

Smith, 55, added in a statement: “I’m thrilled to be working 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 than that of Queen Latifah, the undisputed a legend that both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”

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Latifah, whose real name is Dana Elaine Owens, first broke through in 1989 with the release of her debut album Long live the queen. She released seven studio albums as a rapper and singer, and began her acting career, which began in 1991 with roles in Spike Lee’s film Ague and Home party 2. During the last three decades, she also appeared in films such as Taxi, Hair spray and Burning down the house and won a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, and a Grammy Award along the way. Recently, Latifah starred on CBS Equalizer from 2021

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Queen Latifah March 16, 2024

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“Queen Latifah’s story is a story of victory that needs to be shared with the world. Joining forces with such incredible people to educate and inspire through storytelling is just the beginning of the impact this partnership will have,” Jesse Collins Entertainment CEO Jesse Collins said in a statement.

There is still no casting information, news on who will write and direct the upcoming biopic, or information on other projects the production companies will be collaborating on.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education