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Lenny Kravitz is Motown Legend Marvin Gaye for Julien Temple Film

by Ethan Anderton
November 27, 2012

In the past few years, musician turned actor Lenny Kravitz has made some strides with solid supporting roles in films like Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, The Hunger Games (he'll be back for Catching Fire) and a role in the forthcoming drama The Butler (along with nearly everyone else in Hollywood). Now Kravtiz is gearing up for a big lead role as Deadline has word that he will step back into the world of music by playing Motown legend Marvin Gaye in a biopic from music video and documentary director Julien Temple. In addition, this film has all the music rights in order to keep the project on track.

A project about Gaye has been in the works for awhile with F. Gary Gray once being attached to direct one called Marvin, but since he's working on Straight Outta Compton now, there's no telling if the project will be revived. Cameron Crowe was said to be working on a Marvin Gaye film with Terrence Howard being eyed to play the iconic singer, but we haven't heard anything on that project either. Crowe and producer Scott Rudin had even gotten the music rights, so maybe it's not happening anymore. Sounds like it's up to Kravitz and Temple to make a big breakthrough in their respective arenas.

If you're unfamiliar with the musician and singer Marvin Gaye, these are some big shoes to fill for Kratvitz as the man is responsible for hits like What's Going On and the smooth favorite Let's Get It On, not to mention serving as inspiration for artists such as Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder to get out of the recording industry and produce their own music. Kravitz was a singer first, but his voice isn't exactly the same style as Gaye's smooth Motown sound, but I'm sure he must have some tricks up sleeve if Temple picked him for the role. Thoughts?

Filed under Casting, Movie News

From around the web:

http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin

Maybe I'm not the right demographic, but this sounds super boring. Did anything happen in his life that will lend itself to good drama? If they can craft a Walk the Line type story than it may turn out good, but I don't think Marvin Gaye was as crazy as Johnny Cash.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7YGEVuJ4mM Carpola
  
  Marvin Gaye was plenty mad, cocaine kindo ruined him in the end, dancing on stage in his underwear like an idiot, it's no wonder his own father shot him. But surely 'What's Going On' is up there as a great album? I think he had a lot to say before the coke caught up with him. It's probably a lttle late for this film to come out now, but I'd still be interested in seeing it.
  - http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin
    
    Okay, the father shooting him thing has my interest piqued now. Maybe this could be good drama after all.
Luke Hamel

if you've heard "it ain't over till its over" you know that lenny kravitz most definitely DOES have the smooth falsetto that could well lend itself to a marvin gaye imitation.