Zendaya was first announced to be in talks to play the rocker in 2020. She was hand-selected by Ronnie Spector, who was an executive producer on the film before she died, to play her. Shortly after Ronnie Spector died in January 2022, Zendaya took to Instagram to pay tribute to the star.

We are hearing the deals for Spector’s life rights and for Be My Baby, the memoir she wrote with Vince Waldron, remain intact. The film is in development with Luca Guadagnino writer Kajganich who is hard at work on the expressive interpretation of Spector’s life that Zendaya and Jenkins are after.

Oscar winner Barry Jenkins will direct A24’s “Be My Baby,” a biographical drama about Ronnie Spector. Zendaya, who has been attached to the project since 2020, will portray the ’60s music icon. Before the singer died in 2022, Spector was an executive producer on the film and hand-picked Zendaya to play her on screen.