Biopic
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...
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...
Authorized Michael Jackson Biopic in the Works from Bohemian Rhapsody Producer
A new Michael Jackson biopic is in the works at Lionsgate, but don’t hold your breath for a Leaving Neverland–type exposé. Produced by Graham King, the man behind the white-washed Freddie Mercury film Bohemian Rhapsody, Michael is made with the blessing of Jackson’s family, and shouldn’t be expected to take down much more than the box office. Michael is written by John Logan, known for such films as Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator and Hugo and Sam Mendes’ Skyfall. John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of Jackson’s estate, will produce the film alongside King, who told Deadline he’s known the Jackson family for several decades. “I first met the Jackson family in 1981 and I’m humbled to bring their legacy to the big screen,” King said. “Sitting at Dodger Stadium w...
Geoffrey Rush to Play Groucho Marx in New Film Raised Eyebrows
Geoffrey Rush is set to play Groucho Marx in an upcoming film adaptation of Steve Stoliar’s memoir Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House, Variety reports. Written and directed by Oren Moverman, Raised Eyebrows is set between 1973 and 1977 and depicts the final years of Marx’s life through the eyes of Stoliar (Charlie Plummer), a lifelong Marx brothers fan who was hired to be the comedian’s live-in personal secretary and archivist. Sienna Miller costars as Erin Fleming, Marx’s mercurial manager who picked Stoliar for the job. Stoliar worked on the Raised Eyebrows’ script with Moverman, who previously co-wrote the Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy. Moverman is also set to produce the film alongside alongside Cold Iron Pictures CEO Miranda Bailey. Advertiseme...
