Barry Jenkins To Direct Zendaya-Starring A24 Biopic 'Be My Baby'

A24 has a new biopic on the way and it is about music legend Ronnie Spector. The biographical drama has now secured Oscar winner Barry Jenkins to direct the film titled Be My Baby. The biopic has had Zendaya linked to the project since 2020.

Zendaya is expected to play the iconic ’60s artist. Before her death in 2022, Spector was an executive producer on the project and hand-picked Zendaya to play her in the film. The biopic is said to be adapted from the 1990 memoir Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette written by Spector herself along with Vince Waldron. The biopic will focus on her life, including the events that led to her troubled history with producer Phil Spector. Dave Kajganich is set to write the screenplay.

Spector, born Veronica Bennet, was famously known as the leader of girl group Ronettes from the 1960s. Major hits include “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You” and “Walking in the Rain.” Her signature look was a beehive hairdo and a cat-eyed mascara to go along with her form-fitting wardrobe. In 1968 she married music producer Phil Spector and too his name professionally. In the autobiography, she wrote that he kept her as a virtual prisoner which led to a tumultuous marriage. During her relationship with Phil, she descended into alcoholism. In 2009, Phil was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. He died in 2021 at the age of 81. Zendaya is also producing the film along with A24, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Mark Itkin and Tom Shelly.