Zendaya is stepping into the bouffant and eyeliner of a rock ‘n’ roll legend.
A24 is expanding its creative partnership with the Emmy-winning megastar, this time teaming up for a biopic on the life of Ronettes frontwoman Ronnie Spector. And here’s where it gets even more exciting — Barry Jenkins, the visionary behind Mufasa, Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, and more is officially directing, with Bones and All writer Dave Kajganich penning the screenplay.
According to sources, Zendaya and Jenkins — who’ve both been circling a project to collaborate on — finally found common ground with this one. Rather than go the traditional cradle-to-grave route, they’re aiming for something more immersive. The film will focus on the emotional terrain of Spector’s life — particularly her turbulent relationship with infamous producer (and former husband) Phil Spector. Think less textbook biography and more emotional time machine.
The film is still in development, but the pieces are in place. Life rights? Locked in. Ronnie’s iconic memoir Be My Baby, co-written with Vince Waldron? Secured. And Zendaya, handpicked by Ronnie herself before her passing, is also producing the film alongside Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Mark Itkin, Tom Shelly, and her longtime manager Jonathan Greenfield, who will serve as executive producer. Jenkins’ Pastel partners Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak are also producing.
This marks yet another powerhouse collab between A24 and Jenkins — they first struck Oscar gold with Moonlight and recently teamed up on the Sundance standout Sorry, Baby. For Zendaya, this is project number three with A24, following Euphoria and the upcoming The Drama opposite Robert Pattinson.
It’s clear both Jenkins and Zendaya are booked and busy. Jenkins just wrapped directing Mufasa for Disney, which roared past $700 million globally, making it one of the biggest films of 2024 (yes, even outpacing Dune: Part Two). He’s also teaming with Glen Powell on The Natural Order, an adult sci-fi flick based on Matt Aldrich’s upcoming novel, with Universal backing the project.
Kajganich, meanwhile, is no stranger to dark, stylish storytelling. His screenwriting credits include A Bigger Splash, Suspiria, and Bones and All — all for Luca Guadagnino — and he also created AMC’s haunting historical horror series The Terror.
As for the Ronnie Spector biopic, here’s what we know so far: the film will trace Ronnie’s early years, the formation of The Ronettes, their meteoric rise under Phil Spector’s Philles Records, and the personal trials that followed — including Ronnie’s fight for creative control and ownership of her music following their divorce in 1974. With Zendaya at the helm and Jenkins behind the camera, this isn’t just a movie — it’s about to be a moment.
No word yet on when cameras will roll, but trust — this is one project we’ll be watching like a hawk.
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