Zendaya's Be My Baby Biopic Set to Shoot Fall 2026

Barry Jenkins' long-awaited Ronnie Spector biopic Be My Baby, starring Zendaya, is edging closer to reality, with cinematographer James Laxton confirming the A24-backed film could enter production as early as fall 2026. Laxton, Jenkins' longtime collaborator, told The Playlist that he is preparing to shoot not one but two upcoming Jenkins projects, with the first expected to begin this fall and the other no later than early 2027. While Laxton remained deliberately vague about which project goes first, the Ronnie Spector biopic is widely understood to be among them. Zendaya herself added fuel to the excitement when she briefly mentioned Be My Baby to Elle Magazine, describing it as "a long time coming" and teasing that the film will be "more experimental than a traditional biopic." For fans who have followed this project since Zendaya was first attached in 2020, the news marks a significant step toward a film that has been building anticipation for the better part of six years.

A Non-Traditional Biopic With Experimental Ambitions

Jenkins and Zendaya appear committed to telling Ronnie Spector's story in a way that defies conventional biopic formula. Zendaya's own words — that the film will be "more experimental than a traditional biopic" — align closely with Jenkins' established filmmaking sensibility, the same approach that made Moonlight a cultural touchstone and a Best Picture winner at the 2017 Academy Awards. Be My Baby is based on Spector's memoir of the same name, which chronicles her extraordinary rise as the frontwoman of the Ronettes during the 1960s pop explosion as well as the deeply turbulent personal chapters that followed her fame. Jenkins, working with his regular cinematographer Laxton, is expected to bring the same visually intimate style — including the expressive close-ups that have become a hallmark of his work — to this portrait of one of rock and roll's most iconic yet complicated figures.

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The Personal Legacy Behind Zendaya's Casting

What makes Zendaya's role in Be My Baby particularly resonant is the personal blessing attached to it. Ronnie Spector herself selected Zendaya to portray her before the legendary singer passed away in January 2022, lending the production a weight and responsibility that goes far beyond a standard Hollywood casting decision. Zendaya has been linked to the project since 2020, and the formal announcement of Jenkins as director earlier in 2026 reignited widespread enthusiasm after years of development. The film is produced by A24, the studio behind some of the most acclaimed prestige dramas of the past decade, which further signals the serious artistic intentions behind the project. Jenkins, fresh off his acknowledged misfire with the VFX-heavy Disney production Mufasa: The Lion King, has openly stated that big-budget studio work is "not my thing," making a return to intimate, character-driven storytelling feel like a natural and overdue homecoming.

Awards Buzz and What Comes Next for Zendaya

With production potentially beginning this fall, Be My Baby is already being discussed as a serious awards contender ahead of any footage even being filmed. Zendaya's career trajectory — from Euphoria to her critically praised work in Challengers — has positioned her as one of the most compelling dramatic performers of her generation, and a Barry Jenkins-directed biopic of a role personally chosen by its subject could represent the defining performance of her career to date. One scheduling consideration worth noting is that Zendaya will also need to fulfill promotional duties for Dune: Part Three, expected in December, which could influence the precise timing of the fall shoot. Laxton indicated the films should reach screens in 2027, meaning audiences may not have long to wait once cameras roll.

Be My Baby represents a convergence of exceptional talent, deeply personal legacy, and artistic ambition. With Jenkins back in his element and Zendaya carrying a role that Ronnie Spector herself entrusted to her, the film has every ingredient to become one of the most significant releases of 2027. As production details continue to emerge, Be My Baby is a project that the entire entertainment world will be watching closely.