It looks like we will soon have two biopics based on the life of Marvin Gaye. We get wind of this second incarnation thanks to the professionals at Variety:
F. Gary Gray will direct “Marvin,” a biopic of Marvin Gaye, the iconic singer who was shot to death by his father in 1984. C. Gaby Mitchell (“Blood Diamond”) is aboard to write the script. Gray said his movie will cover Gaye’s entire life, from his emergence at Motown through his defiance of Berry Gordy to record “What’s Goin’ On” and on up to his death.
Gray (“The Italian Job”) has long wanted to tell Gaye’s story, but the inability to secure music rights has made it a high mountain to climb. A rival pic, “Sexual Healing,” produced by James Gandolfini, who has a role, and starring Jesse L. Martin, will focus on the singer’s declining years, because the filmmakers have rights to use songs only from his post-Motown career. That film, reportedly skedded to start last month in Europe, has not begun production.
This picture will join James Gandolfini’ s Sexual Healing in sharing the story of Marvin to the world. Having two similar tales back to back is a bit weird, and the first may be favored at the box office, but it may be cool to see the tale told from two different sets of eyes. I will welcome both films into my house.
The tale or Mr. Gaye is certainly worth telling. He was murdered by his own father! If that doesn’t make for a dramatic enough ending – nothing will.
