Ronnie Spector movie Be My Baby: Cast, release date and songs for the music biopic

27 March 2025, 11:35 | Updated: 27 March 2025, 11:41

Ronnie Spector movie Be My Baby is based on her memoir and unpicks her relationship with Phil Spector.

After Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan and the rest, the current run of major biopics about key figures in musical history shows no sign of slowing down.

Next up is the original bad girl of rock and roll Ronnie Spector, who first found fame as the frontwoman of The Ronettes.

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Ronnie sadly died in 2022 at the age of 78, but the upcoming film about her life is based on her own 1990 memoir Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, Or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette.

The singer also had a big say in who she wanted to portray her on the big screen.

As plans gather pace, we've rounded up everything you need to know about the film.

Who will play Ronnie Spector in Be My Baby?

Before she died, Ronnie Spector was an executive producer on the long-in-development movie and actually chose the actor she wanted to play her back in 2020.

She opted for Zendaya, who is probably best known for playing MJ in the most recent Spider-Man movies and Chani in Denis Villeneuve's Dune films.

As well as her acclaimed acting turns, Zendaya released a string of singles in the early 2010s, some of which were included on her Zendaya album in 2013.

She played over 40 concerts in the US and Canada between 2012 and 2014 on the Swag It Out tour.

Who else in in the cast and crew of Be My Baby?

No-one else has yet been cast for Be My Baby, but in March 2025 producers A24 announced that Barry Jenkins would direct the film.

Jenkins directed 2016's Moonlight, which won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Dave Kajganich is writing a script based on Ronnie's book, which she co-wrote with Vince Waldron.

What is Be My Baby about?

The Ronettes - Be My Baby (Music Video)

Ronnie Spector burst on to the scene in the early 1960s, before establishing herself as a solo star.

She continued to release music and perform live up to her death in 2022, so there's plenty of life story to mine for drama.

It seems as though the film will focus on Ronnie's life in the 1960s and marriage to producer Phil Spector.

In her autobiography, Ronnie revealed Phil's controlling and violent nature during their relationship.

"I can only say that when I left in the early '70s, I knew that if I didn't leave at that time, I was going to die there," Robbie said.

Phil was convicted in 2009 of the 2003 murder of Lana Clarkson. He died in prison in 2021.

What is the release date of Be My Baby?

There's no release date yet set for Be My Baby, but with a star and director now attached, we'll take a guess on 2027.

What songs will feature in Be My Baby?

The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride (Official Music Video)

After a lengthy legal battle, the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Phil Spector had "unconditional" rights to the Ronettes' recordings.

As early as 1973, he flexed his muscles when Martin Scorsese memorably used 'Be My Baby' in the opening credits of Mean Streets without permission, which meant Phil won himself a chunk of the film's earnings.

With Spector's death in 2002, the rights are likely with his estate. The assumption is that financial and common sense will prevail and that there won't be any issue with using The Ronettes' music, or other music from the era.

We'll keep you tuned.