Musical movies about real-life people are experiencing something of a resurgence these days. We recently saw the release of films like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, and there’s a huge slate of additional titles coming to movie theaters and the small screen in the years ahead.
Whether you’re interested in icons from rock, soul, or country, there’s sure to be a biopic for you. Check out all of the upcoming titles in our full list below.
Elvis
Baz Luhrmann‘s return to feature film direction comes with this biopic of the king of rock and roll. Whether Elvis is as rollicking as Luhrmann’s previous directorial efforts remains to be seen, but it’s unlikely to be the kind of rote biopic that can often make the genre feel stale.
Aline
A pseudo-biopic that reimagines Celine Dion’s life through the lends of a fictional pop star, the film chronicles the singer’s life from her childhood through middle age, and stars French singer Victoria Sio, who famously plays her version of Celine Dion even when Celine is just 7 years old in the film.
Maestro
Bradley Cooper is following up A Star is Born with Maestro, a biopic about composter Leonard Bernstein that he will co-write, direct, and star in. Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Strong, and Maya Hawke are set to co-star in the film, and Cooper has said that Bernstein was a childhood hero of his. Steven Spielberg was originally supposed to direct, but handed the reins over to Cooper after seeing A Star is Born.
Untitled Madonna biopic
Only Madonna would dare to direct a biopic about her own life, and while the movie is still untitled, it’s already hotly anticipated. The casting process for the role of Madonna has reportedly been intense, and actresses like Julia Garner, Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, and Emma Laird are all in contention for the role. Whoever it winds up being, the final product is guaranteed to be fascinating.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Daniel Radcliffe may not seem like the most natural pick to play Weird Al Yankovic, but the first looks we’ve seen suggest that it might just be crazy enough to work. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story comes from a script co-written by Weird Al, and seems to be poking fun at how little controversy surrounds the beloved parody songwriter. Other than Weird Al, we still know fairly little about what the full film will be about.
Untitled Martin Scorsese Grateful Dead movie
Martin Scorsese always has several projects in the hopper, but it seems like his Grateful Dead movie with Jonah Hill as Jerry Garcia is really going to happen. Hill has already grown out his hair and beard for the role, and he’s also set to produce the film alongside Scorsese. The biopic will debut on Apple TV Plus, and Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski will write the screenplay for the project.
Untitled Dolly Parton biopic
This project is still in its earliest stages, but Dolly Parton is reportedly in talks to turn her life story into a feature film. Parton has also said that Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth is on the top of her list for the title role, and that the movie would likely take audiences through each stage of her life. She also said that Jim Carrey could make for a great Porter Wagoner, her one-time musical partner.
Piano Man
Perhaps the most confusing entry on this list, Variety has reported that a Billy Joel biopic titled Piano Man is in the works, but that no music or life rights have been given by Billy Joel. The film will reportedly focus on Joel’s early years, including his teenage band The Hassles and his performance for Clive Davis in 1972. At this point, though, the bio part of this biopic is still a big question mark.
Untitled George Clinton biopic
Eddie Murphy is currently in early talks to play George Clinton, the man widely regarded as the godfather of soul. The film is part of a three-picture deal with Amazon Prime Video, and Murphy is still working on a acquiring the rights to Clinton’s life. If he succeeds, though, he’ll be reuniting with the team behind Dolemite is My Name, which almost landed him an Oscar nomination.
Untitled Bob Marley biopic
Reinaldo Marcus Green just directed Will Smith to a Best Actor Oscar, and now he’s roping One Night in Miami star Kingsley Ben-Adir into a biopic focused on Bob Marley. Zach Baylin, the writer behind King Richard, is set to direct the project, which will tell the story of the pioneering musician who died at just 36 from cancer.
Untitled Bee Gees biopic
Director John Carney knows how to make a music-themed movie, but his untitled Bee Gees scale is likely to be his biggest film to date. The project was originally supposed to be helmed by Kenneth Branagh, who had to drop out because of scheduling conflicts, and is set to be written by John Logan. Barry Gibb is reportedly “very involved” in the feature, but no cast has been announced yet.
George and Tammy
An upcoming miniseries will tell the story of country singer Tammy Wynette and her husband George Jones. Oscar winner Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon are set to take on the lead roles in the project, which will be written by The Eyes of Tammy Faye scribe Abe Sylvia and based on a book by Wynette and Jones’ three children.
Untitled Sammy Davis Jr. series
Lee Daniels is set to helm an eight-episode limited series for Hulu about the life of Sammy Davis Jr. Elijah Kelly, who had previously starred in Hairspray and Star, will take on the titular role. The series is set to follow Davis as he rises to stardom and becomes one member of the infamous Rat Pack. Daniels is set to co-write the project along with Thomas Westfall, his frequent collaborator.
Untitled U2 series
Not much is known about the planned U2 limited series that J.J. Abrams is producing for Netflix. The series will be written by Bohemian Rhapsody‘s Anthony McCarten, and U2 is expected to be involved in and sanction the project. Like Bohemian Rhapsody, it’s going to be an authorized account of their rise to prominence.
