Summary
- Ridley Scott potentially directing Bee Gees biopic for Paramount, with Barry Gibb as executive producer.
- Project a departure for Scott, but connection to Bee Gees dates back to early career.
- Film aims to replicate success of Bohemian Rhapsody, highlighting Bee Gees’ legendary music journey.
Paramount Pictures is riding high on the success of its Bob Marley: One Love biopic, and it’s not slowing down. The studio is quickly advancing on its next musical odyssey, a biopic focusing on the iconic Bee Gees. Sources have disclosed to Deadline an exhilarating update: Ridley Scott is potentially set to direct this eagerly awaited project.
Scott, an acclaimed director known for his versatile filmmaking, is set to produce the film alongside his partner Michael Pruss from Scott Free. Joining them in the production are Graham King of GK Films and Stacey Snider. Paramount is set to distribute the film globally, with Amblin and Sister potentially co-financing. Barry Gibb, a key member of the Bee Gees, has joined the project as an executive producer, lending an authentic touch. The screenplay is penned by John Logan, who has previously collaborated with Scott.
This project marks a departure from Scott’s usual genre, but several factors have aligned to make this collaboration possible. Fresh off the production of the Gladiator sequel, Scott’s impressive early footage has caught the attention of Paramount executives. Known for quickly moving on to his next project, Scott was presented with the Bee Gees script soon after wrapping up Gladiator‘s sequel, and the timing couldn’t have been better.
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Scott’s connection to the Bee Gees dates back to the early days of his career, linked through the group’s longtime manager, Robert Stigwood. Stigwood, a significant figure in the music and film industries, had initially planned to cast the Gibb brothers in a medieval film directed by Scott. Despite the initial project’s failure to take off, Scott’s desire to craft a Bee Gees story remained, and now, after nearly fifty years, he has the chance to showcase their tale on the big screen.
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The collaboration also reunites Scott with Logan, with whom he worked on Gladiator and Alien: Covenant. Logan has a history of successful collaborations with producer Graham King, having worked together on films such as Rango, The Aviator, and the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Michael.
Paramount secured the life rights to the Gibb family estate in 2019, along with the rights to the band’s classic songs. Looking to the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, an Oscar-nominated biopic for Best Picture, the film aspires to achieve similar acclaim.
With the Gibb brothers, Barry, Robin, and Maurice, at its core, the Bee Gees have made a significant mark on the music scene, with their record sales exceeding 220 million globally, ranking them among the greatest-selling groups in history. Initially focusing on folk and soft rock in the late 1950s, the Bee Gees’ fame reached new heights with their contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which significantly popularized disco music. The album’s triumph led to the Bee Gees winning five Grammy Awards, with Album of the Year among their accolades. Despite their association with the disco era leading to a backlash in later years, the Bee Gees’ legacy in the music world remains undisputed.
