Lenny Kravitz Lands Marvin Gaye Movie Role

Rocker Lenny Kravitz will play soul singer Marvin Gaye in his first leading film role.

The 48-year-old Are You Gonna Go My Way singer will portray Gaye during the 1980s when he was fighting his addictions and attempting to relaunch his career, Rolling Stone magazine reported.

Gaye, whose hits included Sexual Healing and I Heard It Through The Grapevine, died in 1984, aged 44, after being shot by his father.

The biopic about his life, which is due to be filmed next year, will be directed by Julien Temple.

He has produced a number of music documentaries during his career, including a film about the Glastonbury Festival.

Kravitz, who has sold more than 38 million albums worldwide, has played supporting actor roles in the past, including a small part in The Hunger Games, which was released earlier this year.

He also recently finished shooting The Butler - a film about a worker at the White House who served eight US Presidents.