Lt. Van Buren and Detective Green may be working together again soon. S. Epatha Merkerson is in negotiations to play the mother of Grammy-winning legend Marvin Gaye opposite her former Law & Order co-star Jesse L. Martin in the forthcoming Gaye bio pic Sexual Healing, according to Deadline.com. Directed by Julien Temple (Absolute Beginners), the movie is expected to start filming later this month in Europe. No release date has been set at this time.
Sexual Healing follows Gaye’s life in Europe in the early 1980s, when, alongside music promoter Freddy Cousaert (played by Brendan Gleeson), he tried to overcome his drug addiction and focus on his music career. Gaye’s career spanned over three decades before his untimely death at the age of 44, when he was shot by his father during a family argument.
Merkerson appeared on Broadway in The Piano Lesson and MTC’s 2008 revival of Come Back, Little Sheba. The actress is best known for her nearly 20-year run as Lt. Anita Van Buren on the NBC series Law & Order. Her additional film and TV credits include Lackawanna Blues, Lincoln, The Cosby Show and Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Merkerson currently appears in a recurring role on NBC’s Deception.