Lenny Kravitz to Play Marvin Gaye in Upcoming Biopic of the Soul Legend

Lenny Kravitz, Marvin Gaye.

Lenny Kravitz will he hearing it through the grapevine soon as he prepares to take on the role of Marvin Gaye in an upcoming biopic to be directed by Julien Temple, according to Deadline.

Kravitz’ acting experience is limited, with his credits in The Hunger Games and Lee Daniels’ Precious the most notable. The rocker will also take part in Daniels’ latest project, The Butler, as well as the Hunger Games sequel.

Marvin Gaye, Lenny Kravitz.

The Gaye picture will be set during the time the Motown legend spent in London in the early 1980s — when he struggled with addiction. His confidant while there was music promoter Freddy Cousaert.

A previous attempt at a Gaye biopic was abandoned by F. Gary Gray, who moved on to direct a biopic on NWA. Unlike that early project, all of Gaye’s music has already been licensed for use in this film. Another project, Sexual Healing, that was to be produced by James Gandolfini, was left on the shelf in 2008.