Queen Latifah may need more than one actress to tell her life story.
The hip-hop icon recently revealed that casting her upcoming biopic could require another performer to capture the different stages of her career, which has stretched from music into acting, producing and entrepreneurship.
Latifah discussed the challenge during Variety’s Power of Women summit this week, explaining that whoever portrays her will need to capture the many sides of her public life.
The film is being developed by Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment in partnership with Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment.
The project is expected to be part of a larger group of biopics focused on influential figures in hip-hop.
Will Smith, whose Westbrook Studios is involved with the project, also has his own story in development and has a role in Latifah’s project.
“Someone has to capture all the different sides of me, and that’s going to be a challenge,” Latifah said as she took questions on the summit’s red carpet at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sept. 23,. “They’re out there somewhere. It might be three people.”
Latifah has previously acknowledged that finding someone capable of portraying her entire journey would not be simple.
During the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2025, as reported by Deadline, she said the script was still being written and explained that casting would be one of the production’s biggest challenges. She noted that her story stretches back to her teenage years, meaning an actress would have to capture more than just the version of Queen Latifah audiences know today.
“This is going to be big casting,” she said. “I’ve been doing this since I was 17 years old, but there was the lead up to it, so someone has to be able to play those different parts of it.”
The actress and rapper has not publicly named anyone she specifically wants to play her. However, she has given some indication of what she is looking for in the performers who eventually take on the role.
In another 2025 interview with “Today,” Latifah said the person portraying her would need to be willing to take on the highs and lows that come with her story. She also acknowledged that there are so many different versions of her throughout her life.
“Its going to be hard to cast that. It’s so many me’s, and you got to be brave to play this character because it’s going to be a lot of ups and downs and a lot of adventures,” she said. “I definitely would like to see my story told so people can understand what the journey was like.”
Born Dana Owens, Latifah emerged from New Jersey’s hip-hop scene as a teenager before releasing her debut album, “All Hail the Queen,” in 1989. Her music career grew through songs including “Ladies First” and the Grammy-winning “U.N.I.T.Y.”
She later established herself as an actress, becoming widely known for playing Khadijah James on “Living Single” and earning an Academy Award nomination for her performance in “Chicago.”
Her career eventually expanded into producing and business, further complicating the task of finding one performer capable of portraying her full journey.
Her career has continued to evolve. She spent five seasons starring in and executive producing CBS’ revival of its “The Equalizer” series, which ended its run in 2025. She also joined “The Voice” as a season 30 coach alongside Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine and Riley Green.
With no names officially attached to the biopic’s casting, fans have taken over the conversation online and begun suggesting actresses they believe could portray Latifah.
One name that has repeatedly surfaced is Crystal Renee, known for her role on “Sistas.” One social media user directly tagged the actress while praising her as a potential choice, writing that she would “definitely be the best person for this role.”
Another suggested, “Claudia Logan is the only choice man.”
Laya DeLeon Hayes has also been mentioned by fans. Hayes previously played Latifah’s on-screen daughter on “The Equalizer,” and some viewers have pointed to their resemblance and Hayes’ familiarity with Latifah’s mannerisms as reasons she could work in the role.
Other fans have embraced Latifah’s suggestion that multiple actresses may be necessary.
“The career is too big for one neat impersonation,” one person wrote online, adding that “the biopic just admitted the assignment is a trio.”
Latifah has not confirmed any of the actresses mentioned by fans, and the production has not announced its cast.
For now, the search remains open for the performers who will portray the different chapters of Latifah’s life. The eventual casting will have to account for a career that began in hip-hop and expanded into television, film, business and producing.
Latifah has made clear that she wants those different chapters represented on screen. With the film still in development, audiences will have to wait to see whether the story ultimately calls for one actress, three performers or another approach altogether.
Queen Latifah says she’s going to open a casting call for her upcoming biopic:
— Variety (@Variety) September 24, 2026
“Someone has to capture all the different sides of me, and that’s going to be a challenge. They’re out there somewhere. It might be three people.”
Variety Power of Women pic.twitter.com/pSjEoTooL8
