'We're Gonna Do a Movie': Wiz Khalifa Recalls Snoop Dogg's Immediate Vision for 'Mac & Devin Go to High School'

"Mac & Devin Go to High School" may have become a cult favorite over the years, but according to Wiz Khalifa, the movie only existed because Snoop Dogg had a clear vision from the very beginning.

When "Mac & Devin Go to High School" premiered in 2012, it brought together two of hip-hop's biggest personalities for a cannabis-fueled coming-of-age comedy.

Directed by Dylan C. Brown, the film was written by and starred Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, with Mike Epps and Luenell rounding out the supporting cast.

Dogg portrayed Mac Johnson, a student attempting to finish his senior year for the 15th time, while Khalifa played Devin Overstreet, an academically gifted valedictorian overwhelmed by the pressure of writing the perfect graduation speech.

Their unlikely friendship became the centerpiece of the story, blending comedy with the chemistry the rappers had already established off-screen. The project grew out of the success of "Young, Wild & Free," the pair's 2011 musical collaboration featuring Bruno Mars.

For Khalifa, however, the movie represented much more than another acting role.

Inspired by the carefree spirit of the hit song, Dogg and Khalifa expanded the concept into a feature film that celebrated friendship, youth, and their unmistakable on-screen dynamic.

Although the movie received a mixed reception following its release, it gradually found an audience among fans, eventually earning cult-favorite status.

Interest in the franchise remained strong enough that a sequel, which had originally been teased years earlier before being shelved, was later revived, giving fans another chapter in the story more than a decade after the original debuted.

Dogg Had the Vision From the Beginning

For Khalifa, however, the movie represented much more than another acting role. It was the result of a partnership he had envisioned long before he became a household name.

Reflecting on his admiration for Dogg, the Pittsburgh native revealed that he had been a fan since getting his driver's license, always keeping "Doggystyle" in his car.

Watching the West Coast hip-hop icon perform only reinforced his belief that they would one day work together. Khalifa remembered thinking:

"'I'm gonna be right next to that [expletive], smoking weed with that [expletive].' Just because I'm so cool, like, I deserve to be... like, we deserve to chill with each other, you know what I'm saying? I have something to bring to the table."

That opportunity came unexpectedly thanks to Dogg's eldest son, who became a fan of Khalifa's music. Impressed with the young artist's sound, the older rapper personally reached out while Khalifa was on tour.

According to Khalifa, Dogg's message was simple: "Yo, I [expletive] with your music. My son put me on to you." The rap veteran then invited him to Los Angeles, telling him, "When you come to LA, link up with me. Don't call nobody else."

Khalifa said there was only one possible response, replying, "[...] Of course, like, what the [expletive] else would I do?" When they finally met in the studio, Dogg was already thinking far beyond recording music together.

For the younger artist, that mindset became one of the biggest lessons he took from the friendship.

Khalifa recalled that his new collaborator immediately laid out an ambitious plan, sharing, "He was like, 'Yo, we're gonna do a movie, we're gonna do a soundtrack, we're gonna go on tour.'"

According to Khalifa, Dogg treated those plans as a certainty rather than an idea, telling him, "It's locked in, we gon' do it." Looking back, Khalifa said the rap veteran ultimately followed through on every promise. "And, you know, he kept his word, man," he added.

A Partnership Built on More Than Music

Khalifa has since said Dogg's influence extended well beyond their collaborations. In another interview, he described the rap icon as the person he has modeled himself after the most, admiring both his presence and his relentless work ethic.

The Pittsburgh rapper explained that simply watching Dogg walk into a room left an impression on him. He also admitted that, early on, he simply wanted to learn from the veteran rapper, sharing:

"I will watch him on the road and be like, 'Man, I just wanna hype man for that [expletive].' Or, 'I just wanna, like, just be the young homie, like.'"

After Khalifa moved to Los Angeles, Dogg welcomed him into his circle almost immediately. Rather than encouraging him to simply enjoy the lifestyle, the "Black and Yellow" rapper said the "Drop It Like It's Hot" rapper remained focused on creating opportunities.

In fact, one of the first conversations they had centered on getting to work. "We're gonna record at this studio. We're gonna shoot this movie," Khalifa recalled Dogg telling him.

For the younger artist, that mindset became one of the biggest lessons he took from the friendship. Instead of wasting time, the rap legend wanted to build something memorable. "It wasn't like, 'Yo, we're gonna get high and [expletive] eat junk food all day,'" Khalifa explained.

"It was like, 'Yo, it's time to... it's time to make a moment out of this,'" he continued. That approach, the rapper said, continues to influence the way he navigates his own career.

"So, that's what I mean by I model myself after him, because I see, you know, his position in the game and still how hard he works and what he does," he noted.

More than a decade after the film's release, Wiz Khalifa's memories reinforced the story behind the comedy, revealing that Dogg had envisioned the movie and their creative partnership long before cameras started rolling.