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A feature film chronicling the extraordinary life and career of Queen Latifah is officially in development. The biopic, which will follow her groundbreaking journey from trailblazing female emcee to one of entertainment’s most decorated performers, is being produced by a powerhouse trio: Queen Latifah and longtime business partner Shakim Compere for Flavor Unit Entertainment, Will Smith for Westbrook Studios, and Jesse Collins for Jesse Collins Entertainment.
The project marks the first in a newly financed slate of biopics focused on iconic hip-hop figures, backed by HarbourView Equity Partners—a move signaling Hollywood’s growing commitment to accurately documenting the stories that shaped the culture.
The film will capture Queen Latifah’s rise from Newark-born rapper to an Oscar-nominated and Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning actress and singer. With a career spanning music, film, television, and philanthropy, Latifah’s path has been anything but linear.
As of December 2025, no casting decisions or release timeline have been announced, though Queen Latifah admits the role won’t be easy to fill. “My journey has been full of ups and downs and a lot of adventures,” she said, acknowledging how challenging it may be for any actor to portray her evolution authentically.
Queen Latifah is no stranger to the biopic genre herself. Her widely acclaimed performance as blues icon Bessie Smith in Bessie earned her both an Emmy and a Golden Globe in 2015. She also secured a Golden Globe for her role in the 2007 HBO film Life Support, in which she portrayed an HIV-positive activist inspired by the true story of Ana Wallace.
With this new project, Queen Latifah steps into a full-circle moment—bringing her own story to the screen while setting the stage for more untold hip-hop legacies to be celebrated on film.
