Lenny Kravitz to play Marvin Gaye in biopic

Rockstar Lenny Kravitz will play R&B legend Marvin Gaye in a biopic set to be filmed in 2013, representatives for Kravitz have confirmed.

The movie will focus on Gaye's time in Europe in the early 80s where, with the help of British promoter Freddy Cousaert, he tried to curb his drug addiction and depression and make a comeback, Rolling Stone reports. This is not the first attempt at a biopic about Marvin Gaye, but this time, the music rights have been secured. Lenny Kravitz, 48, has performed various supporting roles in films, but this will be his first leading role, BBC News reports. Earlier this year, he played Cinna in the Hunger Games. Kravitz also won four consecutive Grammys for Best Male Rock Vocal performance in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. The film will be directed by Julien Temple who is best known for directing Absolute Beginners, a British rock film starring David Bowie and Sade, and for his films on British punk-rock band, the Sex Pistols, the London Evening Standard reports. Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his own father, Marvin Gaye Sr, on April 1, 1984, just a day before his 45th birthday. His #1 hit, "Sexual Healing" won him two Grammy awards.