A film biopic of Bon Jovi is in development from the studio behind the forthcoming Michael Jackson movie.
Universal Studios is developing a movie based on the life of the band, according to a new report from Variety. At this stage little is known about the project, and no cast or creatives have been announced aside from Cody Brotter, who will be writing the screenplay, as well as Kevin J. Walsh and Gotham Chopra, who will serve as producers. Walsh produced the films Napoleon, House of Gucci, and Manchester by the Sea.
Formed in 1983 in New Jersey, and named after lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, the rock legends achieved breakout success with their self-titled debut album a year later, with their second album, ‘Slippery When Wet’, establishing them as global superstars. Thus far, Bon Jovi have sold over 130million albums worldwide. They were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Jon Bon Jovi himself has released two solo albums, and enjoyed a career as an actor. He starred in the 1996 romantic drama The Leading Man, 2000 thriller U-571 opposite Liam Neeson, and Kevin Spacey drama Pay It Forward. His last big screen acting role was in 2011’s New Year’s Eve, in a cast that included Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Music biopics have been very popular at the box office in the last few years, thanks to the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, which follows the story of Queen; Elton John film Rocketman; and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. A Complete Unknown, which portrayed the early days of Bob Dylan, received eight Oscar nominations last year, while Jeremy Allen White received a Golden Globe nomination for playing the title role in Bruce Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.
Universal Studios will be the international distributor for Michael, a movie about the life of the late King Of Pop, Michael Jackson. The star’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will play the title role, while Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, and Nia Long are included in the ensemble cast. The film is scheduled for an April 22 release in UK cinemas.