A new comedy movie is in the works at MGM with Snoop Dogg on board to star and executive produce. Called The Underdoggs, the movie will feature Snoop as a youth football coach leading his team of young players to success. Per Deadline, the film tells the story of "Jaycen Jenning, '2J’s' (Snoop Dogg), a former NFL superstar who, after a run-in with the law, agrees to coach a youth football team in lieu of prison in the hopes of relaunching his fledgling career."
Based on an original pitch by Snoop Dogg and producing partner Constance Schwartz-Morini, Charles Stone (Drumline) is directing the feature using a screenplay penned by Danny Segal and Isaac Schamis (Grown-ish, #BlackAF). Snoop is producing via Death Row Pictures alongside Kenya Barris, Mychelle Deschamps for Khalabo Ink Society, Schwartz-Morini for SMAC Entertainment, and Jonathan Glickman for Panoramic Media.
“Snoop’s longtime commitment to his community via his youth football league is hugely inspiring to all of us at MGM," MGM’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Brearton said in a statement. "We are thrilled to be working alongside this incredible creative team to bring this great comedy to moviegoing audiences, and to further MGM’s commitment to the theatrical exhibition when it hits theaters next October.”
Schwartz-Morini added, "We have brought together the perfect team, from MGM to the creatives led by Kenya, to make this film a reality. I am excited to build upon my 10 years at the National Football League and broader work across the sports and entertainment industry to help Snoop bring this film idea to life."
The Film Is a Passion Project for Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg connects with the film as someone who's a youth football coach in real life. The rapper and actor is a certified coach and has been operating a youth football league in California as the founder of the Snoop Youth Football League for at-risk youths. His love for youth football was explored in the Netflix documentary Coach Snoop, released on the streaming platform in 2018. The Underdoggs will allow him to explore youth football on the big screen.
“The Underdoggs is a real personal project for me considering that I’ve been coaching football for 15+ years with the Snoop Youth Football League that I started with my long-time business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini," Snoop said. "Giving back to the community through football has taught us so many invaluable life lessons that we’ve been able to share with kids in similar situations like mine when I was growing up. My hope is that this movie will shed light on the realities that kids and adults face in the hood and within the complex world of football."
“Having been fortunate to work with each in the past, I can attest that Snoop, Charles, and Kenya are the perfect ingredients to make Underdoggs a classic sports comedy,” Jonathan Glickman also teased, confident in the film's success. “In particular, Snoop’s personal connection to the material will make for a film that not only delivers laughs, but a whole lot of heart for generations of fans.”
A release date hasn't yet been announced for The Underdoggs.