Snoop Dogg Biopic ‘Snoop’ Sets Summer 2027 Release Date — Craig Brewer Directs Jonathan Daviss as the Hip-Hop Icon

Universal Dates Craig Brewer’s R-Rated Biopic for August 2027

The Snoop Dogg biopic train is finally leaving the station. Universal Pictures has officially set an August 6, 2027 release date for “Snoop,” the definitive R-rated biopic about the West Coast rap icon, and it’s shaping up to be the next big music biopic event.

Directed by Craig Brewer — the man behind “Hustle & Flow” and the underrated Elvis deep cut “Song Sung Blue” — the film has been in development since 2022, when it was first announced with Allen Hughes attached to direct. Brewer took over the project and rewrote Joe Robert Cole’s original script, and now it’s finally locked in for a summer 2027 bow.

Leading the cast is Jonathan Daviss, best known for his breakout role on the Netflix hit “Outer Banks,” where he played Pope Heyward. Daviss steps into the oversized shoes of Calvin Broadus Jr., the man who became Snoop Dogg — a role that requires both the charisma and the weight of a nearly 40-year career that’s seen him evolve from gangsta rap’s most recognizable voice to a mainstream pop culture institution.

The Team Behind the Music

Brian Grazer — the producer behind “8 Mile,” the gold standard for music biopics — is on board as producer alongside Snoop Dogg himself and Death Row Pictures President Sara Ramaker. This also marks the first project under Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment, which Snoop inked after acquiring the Death Row Records brand.

Mike Knobloch, NBCUniversal’s president of music and publishing, will supervise the film’s music, which draws from Snoop’s vast catalog spanning three decades. Universal’s SVP of Production Development Ryan Jones is overseeing the project for the studio.

Universal has had a remarkable streak with music biopics — from “Straight Outta Compton” to the Michael Jackson epic “Michael” — and “Snoop” looks to continue that tradition. The film arrives at a time when audiences can’t get enough of music biopics, and Snoop’s story is uniquely suited for the format.

From Long Beach to Global Icon

Snoop Dogg first burst onto the scene in 1992 when he appeared on Dr. Dre’s debut solo single “Deep Cover” and then on Dre’s landmark album “The Chronic.” His own debut, “Doggystyle,” dropped in 1993 and became the fastest-selling hip-hop album at the time, cementing his place in music history.

Since then, he’s sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, earned 17 Grammy nominations, won an American Music Award, and picked up a Primetime Emmy Award. But Snoop is more than a musician — he’s a serial entrepreneur with his fingers in Web 3.0, tech, entertainment, lifestyle brands, food, beverages, and cannabis.

His acting career has been just as colorful. From his memorable cameo on “The Wire” to hosting gigs and his own variety series, Snoop has proven he can do more than rap. His comedy specials — including the recently released “Snoop Dogg’s F*cn Around Comedy Special” — show a different side of the man behind the legend.

What to Expect from the Biopic

Details about the film’s narrative scope are still under wraps, but a nearly 40-year career gives Brewer plenty of material. Will it cover Snoop’s early days with Death Row Records and the East Coast-West Coast rivalry? His pivot to a more mainstream persona in the 2000s? The Snoop Lion reggae detour? His transformation into a beloved media personality and entrepreneur?

What’s clear is that Brewer has the credentials. “Hustle & Flow” earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song (“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”), and “Song Sung Blue” proved he can handle music-driven storytelling with emotional depth. Pairing him with Grazer, who produced “8 Mile” — still the benchmark for hip-hop biopics — suggests Universal is taking this seriously.

Competition and Box Office Outlook

“Snoop” opens on August 6, 2027, alongside Disney’s “The Bluey Movie” and Black Bear’s “Jason Statham Stole My Bike.” That’s a varied slate, but Snoop’s built-in fan base — spanning multiple generations and demographics — should give the biopic a strong opening weekend. Music biopics have been on a hot streak, and Snoop Dogg is one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture.

The film will also face competition from the broader summer 2027 landscape, but its R-rating and target audience set it apart from the family-friendly Bluey movie. Universal’s track record with music biopics — “Straight Outta Compton” earned $201 million worldwide, “Michael” crossed $900 million — suggests they know how to market and position these films.

Why Snoop Dogg’s Story Matters Now

There’s also a cultural timing element here. Snoop Dogg represents a throughline from gangsta rap’s most controversial era to today’s mainstream acceptance of hip-hop as America’s dominant musical genre. He’s lived through the East Coast-West Coast feud, the rise and fall of Death Row Records, the transition from physical albums to streaming, and the emergence of hip-hop as a global cultural force. Few artists can claim that kind of longevity and relevance.

His ability to reinvent himself — from gangsta rapper to Snoop Lion to mainstream TV personality — is a masterclass in career management. The biopic has an opportunity to show how Snoop navigated these transitions without losing the core identity that made him famous in the first place. That’s a story with lessons that extend far beyond music.

There’s also the Death Row Pictures angle. Snoop acquired the Death Row Records brand in 2022 and has been rebuilding it as a multimedia company. The NBCUniversal deal, which makes this biopic possible, is part of a larger strategy to turn Death Row into a full-fledged entertainment powerhouse. “Snoop” isn’t just a biopic — it’s a statement of intent.

The Bigger Picture

“Snoop” is more than just another music biopic. It’s the first fruit of Death Row Pictures’ deal with NBCUniversal, and it signals that Snoop Dogg is thinking seriously about legacy. After nearly 40 years in the spotlight — from gangsta rap pioneer to cannabis mogul to mainstream TV host — he’s more than earned a definitive cinematic treatment.

For fans who’ve followed Snoop’s journey from the streets of Long Beach to the stage at the Super Bowl, “Snoop” promises to be the definitive look at one of hip-hop’s most enduring and beloved figures. August 6, 2027 can’t come soon enough.

Are you excited for the Snoop Dogg biopic? Which era of his career are you most hoping to see covered? Drop your thoughts in the comments.