EXCLUSIVE: Craig Brewer has been set by Universal Pictures to direct what the studio believes will be the definitive biopic of Snoop Dogg in his growth from hip hop star to iconic entertainment mogul.
Brewer will contribute revisions to a script previously written by Joe Robert Cole. The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. SVP Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio.
Brewer, whose gritty music-driven films include Hustle & Flow and Dolomite is My Name, most recently directed Song Sung Blue for Universal’s specialty studio Focus Features, which will be released domestically on December 25, 2025.
The Snoop Dogg film is the first project under Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. It’s an outgrowth of Death Row Records, the label that launched Snoop Dogg’s star and now embarks on an ambitious new chapter with the expansion. The strategic evolution cements the brand’s influence beyond music, ushering in a new era of innovative onscreen storytelling.
Universal has found success in the historical hip hop space with the F. Gary Gray-directed Straight Outta Compton, the story of the seminal rap group N.W.A which was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and grossed more than $200 million. Before that came 8 Mile, which starred Eminem in a drama based on his life and rise. Grazer produced that film, which grossed $250 million and won an Original Song Oscar for “Lose Yourself.”
Death Row’s upcoming slate of projects starts with the Snoop Dogg biopic. Beyond film, Snoop will return to NBC’s musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. On top of that, he will continue to partner with NBCUniversal on cross-portfolio opportunities; he was a breakout star on NBC and Peacock’s coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Brewer is represented by WME and Goodman, Genow.
