Queen Latifah Biopic in the Works Produced by Herself & Will Smith

Deadline reports that Queen Latifah will be making a movie about her life and career.

The New Jersey native was one of the first rap stars to cross over into mainstream pop culture as hip-hop began its rise to prominence in everyday American life during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Her Flavor Unit Entertainment company will be teaming up with Will Smith‘s Westbrook Studios, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView Equity Partners to produce the film and other hip-hop-based biopics. This will be a full-circle moment for Latifah and Smith, as one of her first television roles was on his influential NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In a statement, Queen Latifah and her business partner Shakim Compere spoke on working with Smith and the importance the genre has had in their lives. “We all came into this industry together and Hip Hop has shaped each and every one of us,” said Latifah and Compere. “Hip Hop’s impact has expanded beyond just music and has created a lasting impression on culture and society overall. It is a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues that have not only a shared understanding, but are able to tell these stories that were the backdrop of our lives.”

Will Smith is looking forward to the partnership as well, saying, “When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special. I’m thrilled to work alongside Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView, to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favorite artists and icons. There’s no better story to start with than the one of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”

The cast isn’t set yet, but Billboard will keep you updated as more details emerge.