The upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic has found its lead, and Outer Banks fans are celebrating the casting choice.
Jonathan Daviss, who plays brainiac Pope Heyward in Netflix’s North Carolina-based teen drama, was cast to play Snoop, 53, in the still-untitled film about the iconic rapper’s entrance into the music world, Deadline announced on Monday, June 9.
Outer Banks fans took to social media to react to the casting news and comment on Daviss’ uncanny resemblance to Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.
“The more they show Jonathan Daviss sitting next to Snoop, the more I’m not mad at him playing Snoop in his biopic,” one person wrote via X.
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Another fan shared a GIF of Daviss’ Outer Banks character excitedly flailing his arms and wrote, “Jonathan Daviss has been cast as Snoop Dogg in an upcoming biopic for Universal.”
“Jonathan Daviss as Snoop Dogg yeah im SO SAT,” a third user posted, while another fan added a surprised GIF and wrote, “Jonathan Daviss really look like Snoop Dogg.”
Daviss, 25, took to Instagram on Monday to share a screenshot of the announcement, simply writing in the caption, “Bow wow wow.” A few of his OBX costars celebrated the exciting news in the comments section.
“The more medicated the more dedicated,” Chase Stokes wrote, quoting Snoop’s 2008 song “My Medicine.”
“Yessir!!!” Austin North added.
The upcoming biopic, directed by Craig Brewer, will take a look at “how Calvin Broadus Jr. entered into the West Coast hip hop fray” and became the legend he is now, according to Deadline.
“Snoop Dogg’s life and legacy make him one of the most exciting and influential icons in popular culture,” NBCUniversal chief Donna Langley said in a statement when the biopic was announced in 2022. “We met with Snoop shortly after he acquired Death Row Records and had the opportunity to hear his story in his own words. We are humbled to be able to create the lasting document of this singular artist.”
Hours after Daviss’ casting was announced, the Do Revenge actor joined Snoop and his wife, Shante Broadus, on the red carpet at the 2025 BET Awards. Daviss sported an all-black ensemble for the outing, while the couple matched in bold royal blue outfits.
Speaking to Billboard at the event, Daviss shared what it meant for him to be playing Snoop in the film.
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“Dogg wanted to put me through my paces and make sure I was the right person for this,” he said, adding that he was “relieved” and “excited” when he heard that he landed the role.
Daviss also said that Snoop “took [him] under [his] wing” after they met so that he could better understand the rapper’s mannerisms and “who he is as a person.”
Meanwhile, Snoop gushed to Entertainment Tonight about why Daviss was the right person to portray him in the biopic.
“This man is the whole thing. He’s a dynamic actor, he’s a great spirit and he’s a learner. He’s able to take things and make it better,” Snoop said. “And you know, just to have him around me and see how he engulfs the spirit of it and how my family gravitates to him, it’s a beautiful thing to be able to find someone who can do justice to you while you’re still here and able to see it.”
