Barry Jenkins has signed on to direct Zendaya as legendary singer Ronnie Spector in A24’s upcoming biopic Be My Baby.
As reported in 2020, Spector was an executive producer on the film before she died in 2022, and she personally selected Zendaya for the role. The biopic will be adapted from Spector’s 1990 memoir, Be My Baby, co-written with Vince Waldron.
The movie is expected to focus on the singer’s life and relationship with the troubled producer Phil Spector, Deadline reports. Dave Kajganich (Bones and All, Suspiria) has been tapped to write the original screenplay.
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Born Veronica Bennett, Spector rose to fame as the lead singer of the 1960s girl group The Ronettes, known for hits such as “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You,” and “Walking in the Rain.”
She began performing under the name Ronnie Spector after marrying Phil Spector in 1968. However, the artist revealed in her memoir that she was prevented from performing and held captive in their home during their marriage. Ronnie turned to alcoholism as an escape and ultimately fled their mansion barefoot in 1972.
When she attempted a comeback, she continued using Spector’s last name professionally, explaining to Elsewhere in 2007, “I needed any way I could to get back in, I’d been kept away so long.”
In 2009, Phil Spector was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. He died at 81 from complications related to COVID-19 in 2021.
Following her roles in Dune: Part Two and Challengers last year, Zendaya is set to play Shrek’s daughter in Shrek 5 and will star in the ensemble cast for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey — not to mention her return as Rue for Euphoria Season 3.
Meanwhile, Jenkins recently boarded the Glen Powell-starring sci-fi thriller The Natural Order as director.
