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.
