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

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Latifah and Will Smith.Photo:Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

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 theChicagostar’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 Smithis 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.“Queen Latifah on July 25, 2024.Julien M. Hekimian/GettySmith, 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.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Latifah, whose real name is Dana Elaine Owens, first broke out in 1989 with the release of her debut albumAll 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’sJungle FeverandHouse Party 2. Over the last three decades, she has also appeared in movies likeTaxi,HairsprayandBurning Down the Houseand won aGolden Globe Award,Emmy AwardandGrammy Awardalong the way. Most recently, Latifah has starred on CBS’The Equalizersince 2021.Queen Latifah on March 16, 2024.Paras Griffin/Getty“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.

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 theChicagostar’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 Smithis 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.”

Queen Latifah on July 25, 2024.Julien M. Hekimian/Getty

Julien M. Hekimian/Getty

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.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Latifah, whose real name is Dana Elaine Owens, first broke out in 1989 with the release of her debut albumAll 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’sJungle FeverandHouse Party 2. Over the last three decades, she has also appeared in movies likeTaxi,HairsprayandBurning Down the Houseand won aGolden Globe Award,Emmy AwardandGrammy Awardalong the way. Most recently, Latifah has starred on CBS’The Equalizersince 2021.

Queen Latifah on March 16, 2024.Paras Griffin/Getty

Paras Griffin/Getty

“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.

source: people.com