Jonathan Daviss To Play Snoop Dogg In Upcoming Biopic
The actor is known for playing Pope Heyward on Netflix’s teen drama Outer Banks.
By Ralph Regis
JONATHAN DAVISS: Courtesy of @jonathandavissofficial
Courtesy of @jonathandavissofficial
Outer Banks star Jonathan Daviss is stepping into his first leading role, portraying rap legend and music icon Snoop Dogg, in an upcoming biopic for Universal.
Described by the studio as a “definitive biopic about the entertainment mogul and icon,” the film will chronicle the journey of Calvin Broadus Jr., as he enters the West Coast hip-hop scene, taking on the moniker “Snoop Doggy Dogg” before later shortening it to just “Snoop Dogg.”
The Grammy-nominated rapper will serve as the film’s producer, alongside Academy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. The untitled film marks the first official project from Death Row Pictures, the production company founded by the rapper after acquiring Death Row Records in 2022.
Dolemite Is My Name director Craig Brewer will helm the project, with a script penned by Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever co-writer Joe Robert Cole.
The project joins Universal’s lineup of musical biopics, which includes 8 Mile starring Eminem and Straight Outta Compton, which centered on the rise of the rap group N.W.A., wherein Snoop was featured in the film, portrayed by LaKeith Stanfield.
Daviss, best known for his role as Pope in Netflix’s long-running teen drama Outer Banks, which is set to conclude with its fifth and final season, also starred in the dark teen comedy Do Revenge for the streaming juggernaut.
Earlier this month, Snoop released his twenty-first studio album, Iz It a Crime? Listen to the album below:

Ralph Regis
Ralph Regis is a Lifestyle and Culture Writer at Billboard Philippines, where he bridges the worlds of film, television, fashion, art, food, and cultural trends with both the local and international music scene.
He has written extensively about artist collaborations, brand partnerships, and pop culture moments that connect back to music. He also brings stories to life through in-depth interviews with musicians and personalities, drawing on their diverse perspectives, opinions, and reflections on the human condition.
In addition, Ralph also writes about music releases across a wide range of genres, including pop, hip-hop, P-pop, and rock, highlighting both rising and established artists. With a passion for storytelling that goes beyond trends, he explores how music is part of our daily lives in one form or another, connecting culture, experiences, and everything in between.