He's Pope in “Outer Banks.” Now He's Snoop. WTF?
Jonathan Daviss just got cast as Snoop Dogg—and Hollywood is collectively inhaling. The Outer Banks star, best known as the soft-spoken genius Pope Heyward, will lead Craig Brewer's long-awaited biopic of the hip-hop legend. Universal's project has lingered in development purgatory for years, but Friday's double-whammy—Brewer confirmed as director, Daviss locked in as lead—shot it straight into the spotlight.
Twitter's reaction? A symphony of question marks, fire emojis, and “Wait—who?” confusion.
From Breakout Teen Drama to Hip-Hop Icon?
Here's why this might either implode or go platinum.
Craig Brewer's no stranger to the music-biopic zone—his 2005 film Hustle & Flow gave us “It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp” and an Oscar. He understands the dirty-glamour DNA of hip-hop storytelling. Still, casting Daviss—a 20-something known for emotional depth, not G-funk bravado—feels like mixing gin and LaCroix. Could fizz. Could explode.
The budget hasn't been revealed, but Universal's biopic push isn't subtle. With Snoop Dogg on board as producer, it's clear the studio wants control, authenticity, and maybe a splash of cultural redemption. But let's get real: this casting will be endlessly dissected. This isn't just a star vehicle. It's a legacy gamble.
The Hidden Game: Biopic Fever and a Race Against Time
Let's zoom out. The Snoop Dogg biopic isn't alone in this bizarre biographical land grab.
Hollywood is currently hoarding musician IP like it's crypto in 2021. Britney Spears. Michael Jackson. Madonna. Lionel Richie. Carole King. Dionne Warwick. Bee Gees. Linda Ronstadt. KISS. Joni Mitchell. The Beatles (yes, all four). It's an arms race of nostalgia—and Snoop is a high-stakes play.
But here's the twist: Snoop's still alive. Still touring. Still dropping tracks. Which means this biopic isn't a eulogy—it's a branding extension. Like if Bohemian Rhapsody and Straight Outta Compton had a love child in a green room full of blunts.
Why cast a relative unknown? Because this isn't about box office—yet. It's about myth-making. And if Daviss nails it, he goes stratospheric. If he flops, we get memes and think pieces titled “Why Biopics Need to Chill.”
So… Will This Be Fire or a Flop?
You tell us. Daviss has acting chops. Brewer has directorial swagger. Snoop has… well, Snoopness.
But charisma doesn't equal mimicry. And mimicry doesn't equal soul.
Will this film hit the rhythm of Snoop's rise from Long Beach streets to global icon—or just cosplay it through sepia-toned nostalgia?
Genius or garbage? Fight in the comments. We'll bring popcorn—and a gin & juice.
