Biopic
Julia Garner Offered Role of Madonna in Upcoming Biopic
Ozark actress Julia Garner has been offered the role of Madonna in the upcoming biopic about the legendary pop singer, Variety reports. Garner was one of many prominent names to have auditioned for the coveted role. Other contenders included Florence Pugh, Euphoria actresses Alexa Demie, and singer Sky Ferreira. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the “grueling” audition process included intense dance sessions with Madonna’s own choreographer, as well as singing and reading sessions with Madonna herself. Advertisement Related Video Madonna is expected to direct the film, working off of a script she co-wrote with Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson. “I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer — a human being, trying to make he...
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Soundtrack Features Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala, Jack White, and More
If a soundtrack has both Elvis Presley’s and Baz Luhrmann’s names attached to it, chances are it’s gonna be good. Case in point: the OST to Luhrmann’s forthcoming biopic promises “original songs and recordings” by Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala, and Jack White, just to name a few. Elvis will also feature contributions from Eminem, Denzel Curry, Diplo, Jazmine Sullivan, Gary Clark Jr., Måneskin. Kacey Musgraves previously revealed she would be covering “Can’t Help Falling In Love” for the soundtrack, while Doja Cat’s “Hound Dog”-sampling “Vegas” serves as the project’s first single. Of course, much of the soundtrack will come from the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll himself, as well as the man playing him, Austin Butler (who we’ve already heard do his best impression in the trailer). We’ll also hear ...
Danny Boyle Wants John Lydon to “Attack” His Sex Pistols Series
John Lydon has long been an outspoken opponent of Danny Boyle’s upcoming Sex Pistols series, but his criticisms haven’t hurt the director. In an interview with The Guardian, Boyle took the artist’s critiques in stride, proclaiming, “I don’t want him to like [Pistol] — I want him to attack it.” Last year, Lydon attempted to block Boyle from using the Sex Pistols’ music in Pistol, the six-part series detailing the band’s whirlwind rise and fall. However, his former bandmates, guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook, countersued, ultimately allowing the band’s catalog to be featured in the show. Soon after, Lydon proclaimed that the series, which is based on Jones’ memoir, Lonely Boy: Tales From a Sex Pistol, would “water down” the Sex Pistols’ legacy, and complained that ...
Janelle Monaé to Play Josephine Baker in A24 Series De La Resistance
Janelle Monaé is set to portray cabaret singer-turned secret agent and civil rights activist Josephine Baker in A24’s forthcoming television series De La Resistance, Deadline reports. Created and run by Jennifer Yale (Legion, Outlander), De La Resistance follows Baker’s career as a barrier-breaking entertainer and a World War II secret agent for the French Resistance. Born in America but loyal to France, Baker performed at the Folies Bergère in Paris and was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 silent film Siren of the Tropics. In 1939, she was recruited into France’s military intelligence agency, where she socialized with Germans at embassies, ministries, and night clubs to gain information for the war effort. She was later award...
Daniel Radcliffe Stars as “Weird Al” Yankovic in First Trailer for Upcoming Biopic: Watch
Daniel Radcliffe stars as “Weird Al” Yankovic in an upcoming biopic about the legendary musician, comedian, and parodist. Ahead of the film’s premiere this fall, the first teaser trailer has been released. Watch it below. The film, aptly titled WEIRD: The ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Story, was written by Yankovic himself alongside Eric Appel, who also serves as the film’s director. The biopic “holds nothing back, exploring every facet of Yankovic’s life, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like ‘Eat It’ and ‘Like a Surgeon’ to his torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle,” promises a press release. “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story takes audiences on a truly unbelievable journey through Yankovic’s life and career, from gifted child prodigy to the greatest musical legend...
David Bowie Documentary Moonage Daydream Picked Up by Neon, Universal, HBO
Back in November, news broke that director Brett Morgen was making the first-ever fully authorized David Bowie documentary. Now, the film — dubbed Moonage Daydream — has been acquired for release by Neon, Universal, and HBO Documentary Films (per The Hollywood Reporter). Neon will release Moonage Daydream in the United States, and IMAX screenings of the film are expected to follow. Universal is handling the picture’s international release, while HBO holds cable and streaming rights. Described as a “feature-length experiential cinematic odyssey,” Moonage Daydream is narrated by Bowie himself and features never-before-seen footage, performances, and music. Beyond his illustrious music career, the documentary will also delve into Bowie’s work in dance, painting, sculpture...
Eddie Murphy Working To Star As George Clinton In Developing Biopic
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Jason Koerner / Getty Eddie Murphy has proven time and again that he has the chameleon-like ability to transform himself into any character he’s embodying for a role. The veteran actor and standup comic legend reportedly is working on a role as Funk pioneer George Clinton in a developing biopic. Deadline reports that Murphy and others are hard at work on securing rights from Clinton to move ahead with the film and hire staff to flesh out the story. Murphy, who will be one of the film’s producers, has a current three-film deal with Amazon Studios but it isn’t known if the biopic will air on the streamer. As the outlet aptly notes, Clinton, now 80 years young, laid the groundwork early on as one of the pioneers of the Funk sound. The film will follow Clinto...
Eddie Murphy in Talks to Play George Clinton in Amazon Biopic
Eddie Murphy is giving up the funk. According to a new report by Deadline, the actor is in early talks to topline a biopic about the Parliament–Funkadelic bandleader George Clinton. The film, which is still in its earliest stages, would track the musician from his roots in 1940s-era North Carolina to becoming the bonafide Godfather of Funk, pioneering the genre alongside James Brown and Sly Stone as he formed both Parliament and Funkadelic. In the process, he influenced the rise of modern hip-hop by inspiring the sound of everyone from 2Pac and Wu-Tang Clan to Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, OutKast, Public Enemy, and beyond. The Oscar nominee will also serve as a producer on the project. While a deal isn’t quite set in stone, the film would be part of Murphy’s three-picture deal with Amazon followin...
Kristin Chenoweth “Ready” to Play Dolly Parton in a Biopic or Broadway Show
Considering her career has spanned over half a century, the world is long overdue for a Dolly Parton biopic. But one of the first steps toward getting the project off the ground is finding its star, and Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth had a straightforward response when she found out she was being considered: “I’m ready Dolly.” Parton discussed her plans for a biopic or Broadway show during her recent appearance on Mr. Nashville Talks. As it turns out, the multi-hyphenate has wanted to adapt her life story for a long time, but naturally, the pandemic shifted her plans. “I’ve been talking about doing my Broadway musical and we were really, really way out ahead of that, and then COVID hit and that changed my mind about a whole lot of things,” Parton said. “I do intend someday to be o...
Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Star as Johnny Carson in Biopic Series
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been tapped to play one of the world’s most beloved television personalities. Deadline reports that the actor is set to star as Johnny Carson in King of Late Night, a series about the Tonight Show legend. There’s not much else we know about King of Late Night for now, as its producers are still looking for a home for the series. What we do know is that it was written by Deadwood creator David Milch, and will be directed by Jay Roach. King of Late Night will document Carson’s life as his career in entertainment moved him from New York to Los Angeles to the Las Vegas strip, and hosting The Tonight Show across three decades. The series aims to bridge the gap between Carson’s devout connection to his audience and his conflicting private life off-scr...
Daniel Radcliffe is “Weird Al” Yankovic in First Photo from Upcoming Biopic
Daniel Radcliffe is set to star as “Weird Al” Yankovic in an upcoming biopic about the legendary musician, comedian, and parodist. With filming now underway, Roku has shared the first photo of Radcliffe in character. The film, aptly titled WEIRD: The ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Story, was written by Yankovic himself alongside Eric Appel, who will also serve as the film’s director. The biopic “holds nothing back, exploring every facet of Yankovic’s life, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like ‘Eat It’ and ‘Like a Surgeon’ to his torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle,” promises a press release. “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story takes audiences on a truly unbelievable journey through Yankovic’s life and career, from gifted child prodigy to the greatest musical legend ...
Bob Marley Biopic Casts Kingsley Ben-Adir in Lead Role
Kingsley Ben-Adir is set to play Bob Marley in an upcoming biopic about the reggae legend. Reinaldo Marcus Green, who recently helmed the Oscar-nominated tennis drama King Richard, will direct the Marley biopic for Paramount Pictures. He’s also co-writing the script with King Richard scribe Zach Baylin, with the consultation of Bob’s eldest son Ziggy Marley, who serves as a producer on the film. Speaking to Collider, Green said the film will begin in 1977 following the assassination attempt on Marley’s life. The reggae pioneer subsequently left Jamaica for London, where he recorded his now-classic album Exodus with The Wailers. Related Video Green also confirmed that the film has rights to use Marley’s music. Ben-Adir, who hails from London, previously played Malcolm X in the 2020 film One...
