The D-O-Double-G has officially arrived in Hollywood, and he’s bringing the heat—literally.
Snoop Dogg sent the crowd at CinemaCon into a frenzy on Wednesday, kicking off the Universal Pictures presentation with a surprise high-energy concert. The -time Grammy nominee performed iconic hits like “Drop It Like Its Hot” and “Gin and Juice,” turning the industry convention into the week’s hottest party.
But the real “mic drop” moment came when Snoop introduced the actor who will be portraying him in his highly anticipated upcoming biopic.
Snoop welcomed Outer Banks breakout star Jonathan Daviss to the stage, officially confirming that the man known to fans as Pope Heyward will be stepping into the oversized shoes of Calvin Broadus Jr.
“After my brothers got to tell their story with Straight Outta Compton, now it’s my turn,” Snoop told the cheering audience.
The legendary rapper didn’t hold back on what fans can expect from the film, which is being directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow). “My movie is going to be rated R, I guarantee that,” Snoop teased. “So get your parents’ permission.”
In true Snoop fashion, he kept the room laughing with stories about his new life on the Universal Studios lot. Sporting a custom Universal necklace, the rapper joked about his high-profile office neighbors.
“I got a trailer on the lot right next to [Steven] Spielberg,” Snoop quipped. “There goes the mother-f—ing neighborhood!”
He even admitted his signature “smoke” has already caused a few false alarms at the studio. “They called the fire department on me two times already, but it wasn’t fire. Smoke, baby,” he told the crowd with a grin.
The “Gin and Juice” singer also showed some love to the studio’s leadership, introducing Universal film boss Donna Langley as “the queen” and gifting her a matching necklace.
The upcoming film will track the eventful journey of Calvin Broadus Jr. as he transforms into the global icon we know today. It follows in the successful footsteps of ’s Oscar-nominated Straight Outta Compton, which saw LaKeith Stanfield briefly take on the role of Snoop.
This time around, Jonathan Daviss will have the spotlight all to himself. Daviss has become a fan favorite on Netflix’s Outer Banks, which was recently picked up for a fifth and final season.
With Snoop serving as a producer alongside Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker, the project is the first to come out of Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal.
While Hollywood is currently buzzing with music biopics—including upcoming projects on Michael Jackson and the Beatles—Snoop made it clear that his story will be handled with his signature “gangster” flair.
Before leaving the stage, he treated the audience to snippets of “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” and “Deep Cover,” proving that while he may be moving into a trailer next to Spielberg, he’s still the same D-O-Double-G.
