Snoop Dogg will star in MGM’s upcoming comedy The Underdoggs and produce under his Death Row Pictures banner alongside Kenya Barris.
Based on an original pitch from Snoop Dogg and his longtime producing partner Constance Schwartz-Morini, The Underdoggs tells the story of Jaycen Jenning, “2J’s” (Snoop Dogg), a former NFL superstar who, after a run in with the law, agrees to coach a youth football team in lieu of prison in the hopes of relaunching his fledgling career.
Drumline‘s Charles Stone is directing off a screenplay written by Danny Segal and Isaac Schamis (Grown-ish, #BlackAF). A release date of Oct. 20, 2023 has been set.
Also producing are Mychelle Deschamps for Barris’ Khalabo Ink Society, Schwartz-Morini of SMAC Entertainment and Jonathan Glickman for Panoramic Media.
Said MGM’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Brearton, “Snoop’s longtime commitment to his community via his youth football league is hugely inspiring to all of us at MGM. We are thrilled to be working alongside this incredible creative team to bring this great comedy to moviegoing audiences, and to further MGM’s commitment to the theatrical exhibition when it hits theaters next October.”
“The Underdoggs is a real personal project for me considering that I’ve been coaching football for 15+ years with the Snoop Youth Football League that I started with my long-time business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini. Giving back to the community through football has taught us so many invaluable life lessons that we’ve been able to share with kids in similar situations like mine when I was growing up. My hope is that this movie will shed light on the realities that kids and adults face in the hood and within the complex world of football,” said Snoop Dogg.
“We have brought together the perfect team, from MGM to the creatives led by Kenya, to make this film a reality. I am excited to build upon my 10 years at the National Football League and broader work across the sports and entertainment industry to help Snoop bring this film idea to life,” added Schwartz-Morini.
“Having been fortunate to work with each in the past, I can attest that Snoop, Charles, and Kenya are the perfect ingredients to make Underdoggs a classic sports comedy,” said Jonathan Glickman. “In particular, Snoop’s personal connection to the material will make for a film that not only delivers laughs, but a whole lot of heart for generations of fans.”
Snoop Dogg is represented by Boss Lady Management/Snoopadelic, and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman. Barris is represented by CAA, Artists First, and attorney Gregg Gellman, Schwartz-Morini is represented by Zifferin Brittenham and DKC, Deschamps is represented by CAA, and Glickman is represented by Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern. Stone is represented by Paradigm, Tom Gorai, and attorney Craig Emanuel. Segal and Schamis are represented by CAA and Yorn Levine.
MGM and Barris are also currently in development on a Richard Pryor biopic, which Barris will direct as well as write and produce.
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