You really can’t please everyone.
The recent addition of Law & Order star Jesse L. Martin to Sexual Healing, a biopic about legendary singer Marvin Gaye, seemed to be wonderful news for many, but the late crooner’s ex-wife is none too happy. The 44-year-old actor was cast as the film’s lead character in place of Lenny Kravitz who stepped away from the role after facing harsh criticism.
“Ultimately, I think it was Lenny’s heart and soul and conscience that caused him to step away,” Janis Gaye told The New York Daily News. “Hopefully, that touches Jesse in the same way.”
The film, directed by Julian Temple, will center on Gaye’s time in Europe in the early 1980s as he struggled with addiction and career troubles before meeting a tragic end in April 1984. Production will begin later this month in Europe.
Ahead of its premiere, the touring play My Brother Marvin will open in New York City on April 11 at Beacon Theatre, which will also chronicle the singer’s late years according to his sister Zeola Gaye. And as you can imagine, Janis isn’t thrilled about that project either. She stated:
“I don’t think Marvin is a very happy spirit right now. This is the last thing he would want to have happen. I haven’t read the script, but it’s supposed to be based on [Zeola's] book and I did read the book from cover to cover, and it was very difficult to read. Some of the characterizations, like saying Marvin’s father killing him was a ‘mercy killing,’ you can only imagine how that makes the kids feel. It makes me feel bad enough.”
Janis was married to Gaye from 1977 to 1981 and had two children with the singer.
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