Emmy-winning Euphoria star Zendaya is in talks to portray musical legend Ronnie Spector in an upcoming film from A24 about the singer’s life, based on Spector’s co-written memoir, Be My Baby.
Zendaya is also in talks to produce the film along with Spector. According to Deadline, Marc Platt, of the upcoming Little Mermaid and Dear Evan Hansen films, has also signed on to produce and Jackie Sibblies Drury, who won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play, Fairview, has been tapped to write the script.
Ronnie Spector is an American singer who is notorious for starting the legendary ‘60s girl group the Ronettes with her cousin and sister. Together, they had a slew of hits during the early to mid–1960s, such as “Be My Baby”, “Baby, I Love You”, and “The Best Part of Breakin’ Up”. Spector subsequently launched a solo career and has since released five studio albums (Siren in 1980, Unfinished Business in 1987, Something’s Gonna Happen in 2003, Last of the Rock Stars in 2006, and English Heart in 2016). Ultimately, the rockstar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
It is reported the Spector personally chose Zendaya as the actress she wished to portray her in her early years, much like Aretha Franklin personally endorsed Jennifer Hudson to play her in the upcoming MGM biopic Respect.
At only 24, Zendaya just became the youngest actress to win Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and the second Black woman to win that category after Viola Davis in 2015. Now, we have no doubt that will flawlessly deliver the authentic experience of Ronnie Spector.
