Summary

• Trendsetter: Biopic films are Hollywood's new favorite trend, with hits like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' setting the stage for many more to come.
• Star-Studded: A wave of new biopics on icons like Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, and Bob Dylan promises captivating cinema experiences.
• A New Era: With upcoming projects like Fred Astaire and Linda Ronstadt biopics on the horizon, Hollywood is embracing music legends on screen.

Hollywood loves to chase trends. If they see that something makes money, every studio in town is bound to start imitating it, and one of the biggest trends at the moment is the biopic film. Ever since Bohemian Rhapsody made $900 million and won 20th Century Fox four Academy Awards — for Best Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing — it was only a matter of time before moviegoers were up to their eyeballs in biopics. Already, some of the biggest movies of the past year have been biopics. Oppenheimer is universally expected to win at the Oscars, not even in only one category, but multiple, reaching from Best Actor for Cillian Murphy to Best Director for Christopher Nolan.

BlackBerry, which was released in May of last year, won three awards while Elvis star Austin Butler took home a Golden Globe for his charismatic performance as the legendary musician. Given the tremendous success and hype around these movies, the biopic trend is bound to continue. Both Priscilla, about Elvis Presley's ex-wife, and Napoleon, about the French Emperor starring Joaquin Phoenix, also hit theaters at the end of 2023. The next few years will see the biopic become a familiar staple of the release schedule.

Updated on March 7, 2024: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

Beautiful

For six years, the musical Beautiful found its stage on Broadway, captivating the audience with its incredible performances. Jesse Mueller, who starred as the lead character Carole King, even won a Tony Award for her remarkable talent and dedication. While its time on Broadway has come to an end, the doors to something else opened, because the musical Beautiful will soon be available on the big screens.

Edgar-Jones to Star as King

Lisa Cholodenko's Beautiful is based on the life and career of the highly talented singer Carole King, who also gained recognition as a successful songwriter. The only cast member whose involvement was already announced is Daisy Edgar-Jones. Apart from further news regarding the actors and actresses who will join Edgar-Jones, everyone is also still waiting for a release date.

Michael

Antoine Fuqua is directing the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which will chronicle the life and legacy of the King of Pop from his rise to fame with the Jackson 5 to his untimely death in 2009 at 50. Singer and actor Jaafar Jackson will portray his iconic uncle after an intense two-year casting process, revealing on his Instagram shortly after the news broke that he was "humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael's story to life," with the project marking his Hollywood acting debut.

Music Legend's Buzzed-About Biopic

The legendary entertainer's mother Katherine Jackson even gave the casting decision her seal of approval, expressing in a statement: "Jaafar embodies my son. It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers." Michael will explore the many complex facets of the late musician, shining a light on the highs and lows he experienced throughout his career, though it is unknown if his public controversies will be included in the biopic. Colman Domingo will appear as Joe Jackson while Nia Long will star as Katherine Jackson, and the film is set to hit theaters on April 18, 2025.

Untitled Linda Ronstadt Biopic

Music chameleon Linda Ronstadt is yet another star to receive the biopic treatment, as the influential singer will be the focus of an untitled project that is currently in the works with Selena Gomez attached to headline. Boylan and James Keach are producing the upcoming film, who previously produced the Oscar-winning Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, and David O. Russell is set to direct. Ronstadt is an 11-time Grammy recipient who has provided her voice to over 120 albums and had a whopping 38 Billboard Hot 100 singles.

A Major Music Trailblazer

Both Ronstadt and Gomez seem equally excited about the upcoming biopic, with the Only Murders in the Building actress taking to her social media to express her elation at portraying the music great: "I have no words to describe my heart for this project ... years of hoping this dream would become my reality." Ronstadt herself mirrored the sentiment about Gomez's involvement in the film, which will depict her struggles breaking into the rock world, sharing the casting news to her own social media accounts and declaring with heart emojis: "It all started with a simple dream."

A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown will be another addition to Hollywood's biopics, which already has the public longing for its release. The movie, which will be directed by James Mangold, will take a look at the life of the famous musician Bob Dylan, and highlight how the use of an electric guitar impacted his career. From music festivals to trying out new sounds, and potential love interests, A Complete Unknown seems to have a lot in store. Stepping into the role of the iconic Bob Dylan is none other than Timothée Chalamet.

A Dazzling Film Resume

Having gained recognition due to his roles in Beautiful Boy, Call Me By Your Name, and Dune, there is arguably no better choice than Chalamet. With his incredible versatility and utter dedication to his roles, the actor will likely deliver an exceptional performance. Additionally, another famous performer will join Chalamet's side. Benedict Cumberbatch, who is mostly known for his appearances as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Universe, is said to portray the role of folk musician Pete Seeger.

Seeger played an incredibly important role in Bob Dylan's rise to fame; hence, there will likely be numerous on-screen interactions between Chalamet and Cumberbatch. Unfortunately, production has only recently started, which means that there is no available information regarding a release date yet; however, A Complete Unknown is certainly a biopic to look forward to.

Back to Black (2024)

Another biopic which many are looking forward to, is Sam Taylor-Johnson's Back to Black. Focusing on the life of one of the greatest singers, this upcoming movie will finally get the chance to offer insight into Amy Winehouse's incredible career and her troubled day-to-day. Back to Black will capture Winehouse's astounding transformation from jazz singer to Grammy winner, digging deeper into how and why she became one of the biggest superstars.

Winehouse's Spectacular Rise to Stardom

While the movie will tell the story of the singer's impressive successes, Taylor-Johnson finds it equally necessary to tackle further topics such as her alcohol and drug problem, which tragically led to the end of her life at the age of 27. Marisa Abela will step into the role of Amy Winehouse, while Jack O'Connell will take on the role of Blake Fielder-Civil, who was Amy's husband for two years and played a major role in her extreme substance abuse. Back to Black, which is named after one of Amy Winehouse's widely loved songs, will be released on May 17, 2024.

Fred Astaire Biopic

Marvel superstar Tom Holland will be putting on his dancing shoes as he is set to portray actor, singer, and dancer extraordinaire Fred Astaire in a big-screen biopic of the Hollywood icon. News first broke in 2021 that Holland would be starring in the untitled project, and since then it has been revealed that Paul King (Wonka, Paddington) will be directing the highly-anticipated film.

A Much-Needed Status Update

The biopic will explore the relationship between Fred and his sister Adele, who were a dynamic duo on the vaudeville scene before finding further success on Broadway. The sensational sibling act ended up parting ways in 1932 when Adele got married, and while Fred was left devastated by the career shake-up it ultimately paved the way for his Tinseltown takeover. After a few years of silence, King commented on the status of the project while promoting the digital release of Wonka, revealing:

"I'm working on a script with Lee Hall, who's a great, great, great writer, a great screenwriter. And he's incredibly well versed in the era and he's historically, incredibly knowledgeable as well. Clearly, he knows his dance inside and out. So, I've been working with him and learning a huge amount."

The always charming Holland should have no problem capturing the magic, wonder, and talent of the renowned performer, whose career spanned 76 years and led to two Golden Globes, a Grammy, and an Honorary Academy Award. The ambitious actor has proven time and time again that he can really sink his teeth into any role and make it his own, so it will be exciting to see how he brings the legend to life.

Alina of Cuba: La Hija Rebelde

Alina of Cuba: La Hija Rebelde is a biopic about Alina Fernández, one of the fiercest critics of the communist Castro regime — who also happened to be Fidel Castro's daughter. Fernández was born to Cuban socialite Natalia Revuelta, whom Castro had an affair with, and wasn't told who her father was until the age of 10. As an outspoken critic and activist, she was frequently arrested by the Castro regime and eventually fled the country and defected to Spain in 1993, making headlines around the world.

Controversial Choice for the Leading Man

The film has drawn criticism for its decision to cast James Franco (127 Hours, Spring Breakers), who is of European descent, as Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Colombian-American actor John Leguizamo (Moulin Rouge, Encanto) blasted the casting on Instagram, calling it “F'd up!” Alina Fernández herself, whose life the film is based on, defended the choice, however, noting that Franco has an obvious resemblance to her father and that he is a great actor. Filming began in August 2022 in Cartagena and Bogota, Colombia, whose colonial-era architecture will stand in for Havana, Cuba, but there is no release date yet.