THE MUSIC BIOPICS SET TO DOMINATE |
|
Written by Matthew Pejkovic |
The news that Sacha Baron Cohen has signed on to play Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, adds to the growing list of famous musicians set to be portrayed on the silver screen, as the following shows...
|
FRANK SINATRA |
|
Martin Scorsese (The Departed) will direct a biopic focusing on Frank Sinatra’s alleged relationship with the mob, which is currently working under the title Sinatra.
Although no cast has been announced, Scorsese has professed his wish to have Al Pacino play ol’ blue eyes with Robert De Niro riding shotgun as Dean Martin.
There could also be the possibility that Scorsese might used multiple actors to play Sinatra, stating: "We can't go through the greatest hits of Sinatra's life. We tried this already. Just can't do it. So the other way to go is to have three or four different Sinatras. Younger. Older. Middle-aged. Very old. You cut back and forth in time – and you do it through the music. See what I'm saying? So that's what we're trying for. It's very tricky."
Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams) is currently writing the screenplay, with a tentative 2011 release date on the cards.
|
MARVIN GAYE |
|
A film based on the life of soul legend Marvin Gaye has been in the works for a while now, with Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) set to direct.
Jamie Foxx is one name attached to the role, as well as Jesse L. Martin who was attached to play Gaye in a now defunct rival project.
Meanwhile, Terrence Howard has claimed to have nabbed the part, stating: “Nothing’s been signed on paper yet...Everybody who loves music will hate me if I get this one wrong.”
There has yet to be any confirmation as to whether Howard has snagged the role.
|
JANIS JOPLIN |
|
A Janis Joplin biopic has been in development hell for some time now, with Pink and Zooey Deschanel both linked to the part at one time or another.
The latest actress now attached to play Joplin is Amy Adams, with Fernardo Meirelles (City of God) on board to direct.
Entitled Get It While You Can, the film is expected to be released sometime in 2012.
|
LIBERACE |
|
Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) is developing a biopic on the flamboyant showman, with Michael Douglas set to play Liberace and Matt Damon on board as alleged his gay lover.
Said Douglas of their pairing: "Matt Damon's going to be my young lover. God bless Matt."
Yet with Douglas struck down with cancer, it looks like this most promising of biopics will have to be out on hold.
Richard LaGravenese (Conviction) is writing the screenplay.
|
TUPAC SHAKUR |
|
Antoine Fuqua (Brooklyn’s Finest) is set to helm a film based in the life and times of hip hop icon Tupac Shakur.
An unknown is currently sought to take on the role, with Fuqua stating: “That's the goal, I want to discover someone new...I want to discover a lot of new people if I can. Obviously I'm going to have to put some people in it that you know, just because actors have different skills. I want to go to the streets and find him anywhere he might be in the world."
Anthony Mackie previously played Tupac in the Notorious B.I.G. biopic Notorious. Here’s hoping this film doesn’t follow in the footsteps of that drivel.
|
