Queen Latifah Plans Hip-Hop Biopics of Herself and More

Latifah –– real name Dana Owens –– is backing a series of movies, with Will Smith on board as a producer and a back catalogue of artists to choose from

Queen Latifah arrives on the red carpet of The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Phil McCarten / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

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Queen Latifah will produce a set of hip-hop biopics.
She’s aiming to start with her own story.
Will Smith is among the producers of the film.

The musical biopic genre just keeps on expanding. There are a variety of projects in the works, including the recently-confirmed KISS pic ‘Shout It Out Loud', which has McG now attached to direct.

Artists don’t always have direct say over what goes into their films –– sometimes it’s because they’ve already passed away, other times it’s because they sold their rights. But then you have someone like Queen Latifah, who intends to keep control herself.

Latifah has now confirmed via Deadline that she’ll produce a slate of hip-hop biopics about musical icons, and that she’s starting with herself.

What will Queen Latifah’s story be?

Queen Latifah at the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Credit/Provider: Michael Baker / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Latifah, born Dana Elise Owens in Newark, New Jersey, began her music career singing in Baptist churches and in school. She formed a rap group, Ladies Fresh, with her friends Tangy B and Landy D in response to the formation of another young women’s group.

But her career really blossomed when her mother invited a local DJ to see Latifah –– the name comes from a nickname given to her at the age of 8, which translates to “delicate and sensitive” in Arabic –– and her friends perform, and he gave a demo record of hers to the host of ‘Yo! MTV Raps,’ Fred Braithwaite.

She began to perform in bigger and bigger venues, launched several albums and began winning Grammys before diversifying into acting and producing. It’s quite the story to tell.

Here’s what Latifah said about the new effort:

“We all came into this industry together and Hip Hop has shaped each and every one of us. Hip Hop’s impact has expanded beyond just music and has created a lasting impression on culture and society overall. It is a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues that have not only a shared understanding but are able to tell these stories that were the backdrop of our lives.”

Who else is working on this and other biopics?

Will Smith at the 'Bel-Air' season 3 "Summer BBQ”. Photo: Paul Archuleta/Peacock.

Latifah and Shakim Compere will produce on behalf of their Flavor Unit Entertainment. Will Smith and Miguel Melendez will serve as producers for Westbrook Studios. Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon will produce for Jesse Collins Entertainment, the company that produced the music biopics, ‘The New Edition Story’ and ‘The Bobby Brown Story.’

The Bobby Brown Story

TV-MA1 SeasonsSeptember 4th, 2018

Watch The Bobby Brown Story Online

Here’s what Smith had to say:

“When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special. I’m thrilled to work alongside Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView, to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favorite artists and icons. There’s no better story to start with than the one of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”

When will the Queen Latifah biopic be on screens?

With no writer or director announced yet, and no studio home confirmed, we’ll have to wait to see when this one makes it into theaters.

Queen Latifah presents at The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.