Next Musician Biopic Odds: George Michael And David Bowie Among Favourites

We have been treated, or not, to several music biopics in recent years, from Sir Elton John's Rocketman to the Queen film Bohemian Rhapsody, as well as the recent Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown, which featured Timothee Chalamet as the main man. 

Just days ago, the main cast for four major films about The Beatles was confirmed, with Gladiator II star Paul Mescal landing the role of Sir Paul McCartney. 

Completing the Fab Four, Saltburn's Barry Keoghan will portray Sir Ringo Starr, Babygirl's Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon and Fantastic Four actor Joseph Quinn will be George Harrison.

It's not just The Beatles who are getting the biopic treatment though. 

The late Michael Jackson will be portrayed in Michael, which is due to drop on October 3, with the Thriller hitmaker's own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, playing the star. 

Several other musicians have had biopics made about them, including Dame Shirley Bassey - with Ruth Negga taking on the lead role in 2011's Shirley - and the latest Beatles news has sparked speculation on betting sites about who could be next. 

Michael And Bowie Biopics 

Several George Michael projects have hit the screens over the years, but a traditional biopic is yet to materialise. 

In 2023, it was reported in the Daily Mail newspaper that an £85m movie about the Wham! singer was on the cards, with The White Lotus star Theo James tipped to play the late music icon. 

A source told the publication at the time: "The script is in the final stages and producers are looking for their leading man. Theo's name is the one on everyone's lips. 

Next Musician Biopic Odds

"He would be perfect for the part. This is George's story, warts and all."

However, the Careless Whisper star's estate insisted there was "no truth whatsoever" to the story. 

They said in a statement: "To all of George’s Lovelies, fans and lovers of his music, a story has been published stating that George Michael’s family has endorsed a so called ‘biopic’ about his life.

"On behalf of George’s family and [George Michael Entertainment] we want to make it clear that there is no truth whatsoever in this story, we know nothing about this project and will not be endorsing it in any way."

Despite this, a George Michael biopic will surely be greenlit at some point, and it's 11/8 on betting apps for that to happen soon.

David Bowie is said to have been against a film about his life being made. 

However, Stardust - about a young Bowie and his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust - appeared in 2020, with Johnny Flynn as the leading man. 

While it was largely panned by critics, it's 3/1 for another Bowie biopic to emerge soon.

Carey And Prince Biopics In The Pipeline? 

Mariah Carey could also be set for the biopic treatment. There was strong speculation last year that such a movie could be on the way, after director Lee Daniels hinted as much. 

He shared a short clip of himself and Mariah on Instagram, and he wrote: "The Meaning of Mariah. A long time coming ... I love this woman!"

Mariah is 6/4 to get her own biopic soon, and the late, great Prince isn't far behind at 15/8. 

Last year, it was reported a Prince-focused musical was in the works, with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler attached to produce the project.

But it's not known who might portray Carey or Prince in the movies, and if, or when, they will be released. 

Earlier this year, Prince's estate blocked the release of a nine-hour documentary about the Purple Rain hitmaker on Netflix. 

A statement read: "The Prince Estate and Netflix have come to a mutual agreement that will allow the estate to develop and produce a new documentary featuring exclusive content from Prince's archive. 

"As a result, the Netflix documentary will not be released."

Filmmaker Ezra Edelman was said to have completed the documentary after working on it for nearly five years, during which time he interviewed more than 70 people.

Parton Picks Her Dolly 

Dolly Parton is 2/1 to land a biopic next, and she knows exactly who she wants to portray her in a project about her life.  

In 2022, Parton confirmed she was "in talks" about making a movie about her. 

She said on Mr. Nashville Talks: "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. 

"I do intend someday to be on Broadway, but I’m thinking now that I might do my life story as a feature... maybe possibly even a musical feature, so we’re in talks about that."

In 2020, Parton revealed she would love to see Wicked star Kristin Chenoweth portray her in a project. 

She told Marie Claire magazine: "I love Kristin Chenoweth. She’s just absolutely fantastic.

"Years and years ago, when I was going to do the Broadway musical - I never can get it to how I want it, but I’m still working on it. But I thought she’d be an ideal person to do that."

A Cher biopic (7/2) was first rumoured in 2021, and it's still thought to be in the works, and in the same year Sir Tom Jones admitted he was considering a tell-all movie of his life (5/2).

An Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne movie was first spoken about in 2021, and that's thought to be ongoing, too. 

However, it means Ozzy's chances of landing his own, standalone biopic soon aren't great at 6/1. 

There is surely a gap in the market for a film about Diana Ross' life (4/1) next though. Ross will be portrayed on screen by Kat Graham soon, but it's not in her own motion picture.

Graham will take on the role of the Endless Love hitmaker in Michael, and if all goes well there could be rumblings about her portraying the star in a standalone biopic. 

Another US superstar who could receive the life movie treatment is Beyonce.

The Halo hitmaker has dropped two concert films in the past, 2023's Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce and 2019's Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce, but she hasn't had a traditional biopic just yet.

It's 5/1 that the Single Ladies star is the subject of one soon, while her husband, rapper Jay Z, is 7/1 to get the biopic treatment. Stevie Wonder (8/1) and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain (10/1) may also feature in biopics of their lives.

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.