Queen Latifah Teams Up with Will Smith for a Biopic About Her Life and Career

Will Smith called Queen Latifah "an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years" in a statement

Queen Latifah's life story is heading to the big screen!

On Thursday, Sept. 19, Latifah, 54, and her Flavor Unit Entertainment partner Shakim Compere announced they will produce a biopic based on the Chicago star's life as part of a larger agreement with Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment to produce a number of biopics based on the lives and careers of hip-hop artists.

Will Smith is set to work on the movie as a producer through Westbrook Studios as well.

"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,” Latifah, 54, and Compere said in a statement. "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."

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Smith, 55, added in a statement, "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.” 

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Latifah, whose real name is Dana Elaine Owens, first broke out in 1989 with the release of her debut album All Hail the Queen. She has released seven studio albums as a rapper and singer, and also embarked on an acting career that began in 1991 with roles in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever and House Party 2. Over the last three decades, she has also appeared in movies like Taxi, Hairspray and Burning Down the House and won a Golden Globe Award, Emmy Award and Grammy Award along the way. Most recently, Latifah has starred on CBS' The Equalizer since 2021.

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“Queen Latifah’s story is one of triumph that needs to be shared with the world. Joining forces with such amazing people to educate and inspire through storytelling is just the beginning of the impact this partnership will have," Jesse Collins Entertainment CEO Jesse Collins said in a statement.

No casting information, news regarding who will write and direct the forthcoming biopic or information regarding other projects the production companies will collaborate on are yet available.

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