What goes around comes around, or something like that. The forever developing Marvin Gaye biopic “Sexual Healing” has once again switched out its lead, but this time has gone back the man who was originally tapped for the gig.
Deadline reports that Jesse L. Martin (probably best known for stint on “Law & Order,” but also a very accomplished Broadway vet) has replaced the recently cast Lenny Kravitz in the lead role. Back in 2008, the film was set to co-star Martin with James Gandolfini as Belgian promoter Freddy Cousaert, in the film that would chronicle Gaye’s 1981 stint in Ostend, Belgium, where he recorded his biggest-selling album, Midnight Love. The relatively unknown Lauren Goodman was wrote the script (loosely based on the book “Trouble Man“) and was going to direct, but was replaced somewhere along the way by the more experienced Julien Temple (“Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten,” just one of many music related projects). Gandolfini dropped off, but now he’s been replaced by Brendan Gleeson. Got all that?
Marvin Gaye III was apparently vocal about getting Kravitz off the project, and even threatened legal action. So we’re back to Martin, with Gleeson to co-star and the movie will actually start shooting this month. No word on what this means for Cameron Crowe’s mooted biopic “My Name Is Marvin,” but that has been quiet for a while now and presume it’ll be off the table not only because of this project, but also his new brewing movie with Emma Stone and Bradley Cooper.