Marvin Gaye's son slams 'shameful' biopic

Los Angeles - Marvin Gaye's son thinks the new biopic about his father is "shameful".

Marvin Gaye III has voiced his disgust at the news of Julien Temple's Sexual Healing film about his Motown legend father's troubled last years and is shocked his childhood friend Lenny Kravitz has agreed to star in it.

The biopic is said to be focusing on the soul singer's later life, including his struggle with drug addiction and depression as well as his violent death in 1984 at the hands of his father.

He told TMZ: "The producers and directors of this film are very wrong and shameful. [They're] trying to do a film about a low period in his life. They don't even know the whole story."

Marvin's son - who has known rocker Lenny since school - said he wanted to "talk to him about why he would do this" and doesn't understand why his close friend would have signed up to a project that would bring shame on the family name.

He added: "I would hope [Lenny] doesn't have any idea that we are against this film being done."

Lenny, 48, is set to have his first leading role in the film after a successful run of supporting ones including a part this year's blockbuster The Hunger Games.

Janis Gaye, the singer's second and last wife, has already said she was "very sceptical" about how the project will turn out.