Snoop Dogg Biopic Casting | New Actors Join Universal Project

Production Updates on the Snoop Dogg Biopic

Universal Pictures has expanded the cast for its upcoming biopic centered on the life and career of hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg. The studio announced that Laya DeLeon Hayes, Olly Sholotan, Corey Champagne, and Jonica Booth are joining the project. These actors will portray key figures from the rapper's early life and the West Coast hip-hop scene. Laya DeLeon Hayes takes on the role of Shante Broadus, Snoop’s wife. Olly Sholotan will appear as rapper Kurupt. Corey Champagne portrays Nate Dogg, while Jonica Booth steps into the role of The Lady of Rage.

Craig Brewer is directing the film. He worked from a script originally written by Joe Robert Cole. Brewer is known for his recent work on Song Sung Blue for Focus Features, a specialty studio under the Universal umbrella. Production is currently moving forward with significant support from the artist himself, who is producing the movie alongside Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. This effort represents a major move for the brand as it expands into visual storytelling under a new deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment.

Shifting Strategic Priorities for Death Row

Death Row Records once defined the sound of 1990s West Coast rap. This new biopic marks the first major production under the studio’s formal partnership with NBCUniversal. Industry veterans Brian Grazer and Allan Mandelbaum of Imagine Entertainment are also producing the film. Executive producers for the project include Michael Beugg and Jeb Brody, while Ryan Jones and Tony Ducret oversee the development phase for Universal. The film will feature music pulled directly from the extensive Death Row catalogue.

This project highlights a move by the music brand to command a larger space in film and media. Music-based biopics have long served as a primary vehicle for legacy artists to control their public image and history. By securing an overall deal with a major studio, the company moves past simple licensing and into active film production. The success of this transition remains to be seen, but the high-profile nature of the cast signals serious interest from the studio.

Industry Impact and Casting Details

Representing the talent involved are several major agencies. Industry Entertainment and Toczek Suddleson Law Group represent Laya DeLeon Hayes. Buchwald, PIZA, and the law firm Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman represent Olly Sholotan. Innovative Artists, CT Media, and John Meigs support Corey Champagne. Jonica Booth is represented by Stewart Talent, ColorCreative, and the team at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. The assembly of such a cast suggests the film aims for both historical accuracy and strong commercial appeal.

Beyond the screen, the project reflects the enduring cultural weight of Snoop Dogg. He rose from Long Beach, California, to become a global pop culture figure. As the film nears production, audiences can expect a focus on the artist's rise in the 90s. The industry is watching to see how the partnership between Death Row Pictures and NBCUniversal plays out on the big screen. This project will serve as a bellwether for future music-to-film studio deals.