Zendaya’s Long-Awaited Ronnie Spector Biopic Could Finally Start Filming This Fall

After years in development, Barry Jenkins’ much-anticipated Ronnie Spector biopic starring Zendaya is reportedly inching closer to production, with filming rumored to begin sometime this fall.

According to The Playlist, Jenkins’ longtime cinematographer James Laxton revealed that he’s preparing to shoot two upcoming Jenkins projects, with one expected to enter production as early as this fall. Laxton, who has collaborated with Jenkins on acclaimed films including Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk — both of which earned their lead actors Academy Awards — remained intentionally vague about specifics, noting that the timeline and order of the two projects haven’t been finalized yet, though both are hoped to reach audiences sometime in 2027.

Industry outlet World of Reel has speculated that the two projects in question are the Ronnie Spector biopic, Be My Baby, and The Intuitionist, an adaptation based on Colson Whitehead’s debut novel.

Zendaya has been attached to the lead role since the project was first announced, and she recently opened up about the film in an interview with Elle Magazine, describing it as a project that has been “a long time coming” and noting that it will lean more experimental than a traditional music biopic.

During an earlier appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Zendaya reflected on the emotional weight of portraying Ronnie Spector, expressing sadness that the singer won’t be alive to see the finished film, while also describing the role as added motivation to honor her story as authentically as possible. Spector had personally selected Zendaya for the role before passing away on January 12, 2022, at age 78, following a brief battle with cancer. The two had reportedly spent time together prior to her death.

Zendaya also spoke about how little she initially knew about Spector’s personal history despite being familiar with her music, expressing that the singer’s story deserved wider recognition. The upcoming film will mark a rare quiet period for the actress, who has had an especially packed schedule this year with projects including The Drama, Euphoria, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Dune: Part Three, and The Odyssey.

Be My Baby is based on Spector’s 1990 memoir of the same name, which chronicled her rise to fame as well as the darker chapters of her life. According to Deadline, the filmmaking team intentionally chose to focus the film on capturing the emotional experience of Spector’s life rather than following a traditional, chronological biopic structure.

The film is expected to explore Spector’s turbulent marriage to Phil Spector, the convicted producer she was married to from 1968 to 1974. In her memoir, Spector described being effectively isolated within their home during the marriage, an experience she said contributed to struggles with alcohol that followed.