Barry Jenkins Directing Zendaya in ‘Be My Baby’

Preview:

• Zendaya will star in a film about legendary singer Ronnie Spector.
• ‘Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins will direct the movie.
• A24 is backing the project.

Here’s a powerhouse combination that should delight those who love quality movies and music: Barry Jenkins, the man behind the Oscar-winning ‘Moonlight’ and other movies including ‘If Beale Street Could Talk,’ has stepped aboard the Zendaya-starring ‘Be My Baby.’

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Follows the life of singer Ronnie Spector who grew up in Spanish Harlem and started girl group the Ronettes and her tumultuous marriage with producer Phil Spector. Read the Plot

The movie, which will focus on famed singer Ronnie Spector’s life with husband and powerhouse producer Phil Spector, has been in development for some time now.

It first emerged as a possibility in 2019, where it seemed headed for 20th Century Fox before the company’s merger with Disney shut down forward movement on the rights.

Since then, it has been picked up by A24, which partnered with New Regency to produce it. Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Mark Itkin, Tom Shelly and Zendaya are producing, while Jonathan Greenfield (Spector’s manager and second husband) is an executive producer.

Zendaya arrives on the red carpet of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Nick Agro ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Spector herself personally anointed Zendaya as the person she wanted to play her, much as Aretha Franklin endorsed Jennifer Hudson for her own biopic, ‘Respect.’

The deals for Spector’s life rights and for ‘Be My Baby,’ the memoir she wrote with Vince Waldron are still in place. And while Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury had been sounded out about the script when the movie was first announced, David Kajganich, who wrote Luca Guadagnino’s films ‘A Bigger Splash,’ ‘Suspiria’ and ‘Bones and All,’ is currently at work on a draft.

According to Deadline, this team-up for Jenkins and the ‘Dune’ and Euphoria’ star has been something they’ve both been looking to make happen for some time.

Related Article: Every Zendaya Movie, Ranked!

Who was Ronnie Spector?

Ronnie Spector in ‘Ronnie Spector at the BBC’. Photo: BBC.

Born Veronica Bennett on August 10, 1943, in the Bronx, Spector began singing professionally in junior high and formed the Darling Sisters with her sibling Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley in 1958. The group signed its first label deal with Colpix Records in 1961, and moved to Phil Spector’s Philles Records two years later, changing their name to the Ronettes.

After breaking out with “Be My Baby,” the group had a moderate follow-up hit with “Baby, I Love You.” A couple of minor hits later, “Walking in the Rain” hit No. 23 in late 1964. All seven of their Hot 100 singles were produced by Phil Spector.

Most of those songs — including “(Best Part of) Breaking Up” and “Do I Love You?” — were on the 1964 LP “Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica,” which peaked at No. 96 and would be their only charting album.

The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, three years after they joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They counted Bruce Springsteen and Brian Wilson among their famous fans.

She was married to Phil Spector between 1968 and 1974, decades before he would be convicted of second-degree murder in the 2003 death of actress Lana Clarkson.

After Phil Spector’s death in 2021, Ronnie called him, “A brilliant producer but a lousy husband.”

Spector herself died in 2022 from cancer.

Upon her passing, Spector’s family released the following statement:

“Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today after a brief battle with cancer. She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan. Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude. Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her.”

What else has Barry Jenkins worked on?

(L to R) Afia (voiced Anika Noni Rose), Young Mufasa (voiced by Braelyn Rankins) and Masego (voiced by Keith David) in Disney’s ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights

Jenkins made a name for himself with 2008’s ‘Medicine for Melancholy’ but really broke out big with ‘Moonlight’ in 2016, which went on to win the Best Picture Oscar (after ‘La La Land’ had been mistakenly announced).

He also made ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ in 2018, and most recently directed ‘Mufasa: The Lion King,’ a prequel to the 2019 Disney photorealistic version of the animated classic.

On the small screen, he was the showrunner and director for ‘The Underground Railroad,’ which arrived on Prime Video in 2021.

Where else can we see Zendaya?

Zendaya attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.

Next up for the busy actor is Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ which has just started shooting and stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and approximately half of Hollywood.

She’ll also reportedly (though it has yet to be officially confirmed) be back as MJ in the next ‘Spider-Man’ movie, which will also see Holland reprising his lead role as Peter Parker in the latest outing for the Marvel character, to be directed this time by Destin Daniel Cretton.

Those two giant movies are due in 2026, but she’s also worked on Kristoffer Borgli’s romantic movie ‘The Drama’ alongside Robert Pattinson. That doesn’t have a confirmed release date, but should be on screens this year.

Meanwhile, there is her much-anticipated return to HBO series ‘Euphoria,’ which has finally started shooting its third season and looks likely to be on screens next year.

When will ‘Be My Baby’ be in theaters?

A24 has yet to announce a release date for the movie, which is not shocking since it’s still being written.

(L to R) Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Shawn Levy, Barry Jenkins, Amy Poehler and Kevin Feige at Disney’s 2024 CinemaCon Presentation. Photo: Disney.

List of Barry Jenkins Movies and TV Shows:

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