Big Boi is set to take on the role of Berry Gordy in the upcoming The Bobby DeBarge Story film, the biopic centered around the singer, who was the lead singer of group Switch and a member of the family band DeBarge.
It was on Instagram that Big Boi confirmed the news, sharing a snapshot of his custom director’s chair.
The film is set to debut in June 2019 and will DeBarge’s time with Motown group Switch under Gordy’s guidance as well as his time singing with his younger siblings as part of DeBarge. Naturally, the film is also set to cover DeBarge’s battle with substance abuse and HIV and his eventual death due to AIDS complications.
The film is set to debut on TV One and will star Roshon Fegan in the lead role as Bobby DeBarge, Tyra Ferrell as Etterlene DeBarge, Adrian Marcel as James DeBarge, and singer Lloyd as Switch member and founder Gregory Williams.
"The Bobby DeBarge Story continues TV One's tradition of telling the story of unsung music heroes,” says Karen Peterkin, Director of Scripted Original Programming and Production. “While our audience knows Bobby's group, Switch, and his musically-gifted family, DeBarge, they may not know Bobby DeBarge's contribution to creating the sound that changed the music landscape for decades to come. A falsetto master, Bobby DeBarge was a musical genius who battled demons of his own for many years. The Bobby DeBarge Story is the quintessential story of sex, drugs and rock and roll.”