Much like the case with the Bob Marley there are now Two Marvin Gaye biopics on Hollywood’s docket. Former music video maven F. Gary Gray has announced that he will direct “Marvin” for co-producer David Foster, while Jesse L. Martin directs the previously announced “Sexual Healing” for producer James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini. “Marvin” according to the Daily Variety will focus on Gaye’s entire life, from Motown through his defiance of Berry Gordy to his hit record “What’s Goin’ On” on up to his death. “Sexual Healing” on the other hand will concentrate on the singer’s twilight, because the filmmakers have rights to use songs only from his post-Motown career.

“This is my passion project, the one that I wake up every day thinking about,” Gray told Daily Variety. “I’m going to tell a truthful story, and there is no shortage of drama and extreme conflict in a relationship with his father that at its core is Shakespearean and tragic.

“This isn’t the average biopic of a rock star wrestling with drugs and women, but a man whose musical awakening became a call to action that questioned critical issues like a costly foreign war, recession, environment, inequality — issues that are relevant now.”

“My mantra was, no music, no movie,” said Duncan McGillivray, who will co-produce “Marvin” and has secured the music rights. “But to me, the core story is a man who spent his whole life trying to justify and prove himself to a father who beat him down physically and later mentally. His father was a cross-dressing, alcoholic Baptist minister who was let off the hook for shooting his son.”

Honestly Marvin Gaye’s music is timeless but his life story was before my time and I wasn’t aware of those bugged out details.  I know F. Gary Gray has done some fine movies in addition to his music video career ie: The Negotiator so I’m looking forward to seeing that film.