Barry Jenkins to Direct Zendaya’s Long-Awaited Ronnie Spector Musical Biopic ‘Be My Baby’

The actress/producer will lead Oscar winner Barry Jenkins’ Ronnie Spector biographical drama “Be My Baby” for A24. This is Zendaya’s third project with the studio after “Euphoria” and upcoming romantic comedy “The Drama” co-starring Robert Pattinson. “Be My Baby” has been in the works since 2020, as late singer Spector hand-selected Zendaya to play her. The project landed at A24 in 2022. Jenkins has now been announced as the auteur directing, as IndieWire confirmed.

Jenkins will direct from frequent Luca Guadagnino collaborator Dave Kajganich’s (“Bones and All,” “Suspiria,” “Bigger Splash”) original screenplay. Jenkins previously helmed A24’s “Moonlight” and produced A24 feature “Sorry, Baby.”

“Be My Baby” is produced by Zendaya, A24, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Mark Itkin, and Tom Shelly, with Jonathan Greenfield as executive producer. Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak, Barry’s partners at Pastel, will also be joining as producers. Before her passing, Spector was also an executive producer on the film.

“Be My Baby” is based on Spector’s 1990 memoir she wrote with Vince Waldron. Zendaya previously wrote a tribute to Spector in 2022 after her death, saying that she was a “true rock star, through and through.” Spector was the famed lead singer of 1960s group The Ronettes and died at age 78. Spector was famously married to music producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector.

Phil Spector has been at the center of various films and docuseries after he murdered actress and model Lana Clarkson. He was serving 19 years to life in prison before his death from COVID in 2021. Ronnie Spector was Phil Spector’s first wife, and cited the violence she experienced by him. There have also been accusations of abuse from Phil Spector’s three adopted children. At the time of his death, Spector wrote that “he was a brilliant producer, but a lousy husband.”

No casting for Phil Spector has been announced yet in “Be My Baby.”

Zendaya is represented by CAA, Monster Talent Management, and Granderson Des Rochers. Jenkins is repped by CAA, manager Jewerl Keats Ross and lawyer Jamie Feldman. Kajganich is repped by Robyn Meisinger at Anonymous Content, Blair Kohan at UTA, and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway, Austen, Tyerman, and Wertheimer.