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Over the last few years, music fans have been blessed with a bevy of biopics about some of the most iconic figures in the history of the artistic medium, particularly in the biopic genre.
Films such as Elvis, Bohemian Rhapsody, Rockertman, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Tick, Tick… Boom! (about Rent creator Jonathan Larson) has all been released in just the last few years, not to mention Bradley Cooper’s highly successful remake of A Star Is Born and AppleTV’s Oscar-winning CODA.
Naturally, given the chance to speak with someone who’s had a major hand in bringing two of those aforementioned projects to life, we had to ask what rockstar should be the next to be further immortalized with a narrative movie about their life and career.
When asked what rock icon he thinks is next in line to get the biopic treatment — as a New Jersey native, I tried to pitch him on a Bruce Springsteen road trip movie — Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher indicated that he believes the obvious choice is David Bowie, who was the recent subject of the Brett Morgen documentary Moonage Daydream.
“Well everyone is talking about [making a biopic about David] Bowie, of course, which is really difficult,” Fletcher told BroBible’s Post-Credit Podcast ahead of the release of his new film Ghosted.
“This is the thing — and I think this is why it took so long for a really good Elvis movie to come along — they’re so iconic but they’re so huge and powerful. Who do you get to play that role? It’s a really big ask. You could do it with Taron [Egerton] and Elton John. I knew that was a genius idea as soon as I heard it. And Rami [Malek] with Freddie Mercury, it was genius. But who plays Bruce? Who plays The Boss?! Who do you get to play young [Rolling Stones frontman Mick] Jagger?! Same with The Who! Who plays Pete Townsend?!
Fletcher then indicated despite his history with biopics about rock and roll legends, he’s moved on to other genres these days
“It’s a really big ask. So don’t ask me. I’m all tapped out when it comes to trying to get someone to fill those shoes. Of course, it’s about finding a way of telling that story in an original way.”
Fletcher’s latest film Ghosted — which features Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and Adrien Brody — will hit AppleTV+ on Friday, April 21. You can also check out our full interview with Dexter Fletcher below: