Universal Pictures is developing the definitive biopic on the Grammy award winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi, the studio announced Tuesday.
Black list writer Cody Brotter will write the screenplay.
Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, an extensive catalog of hit anthems, thousands of concerts performed in more than 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, and ticket grosses well over $1 billion around the world in the last decade alone, Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.
Kevin J. Walsh and Religion of Sports’ Gotham Chopra will produce. Director of Production Development Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project for the Studio.
Universal Pictures had success with musical biopics detailing the backstories of significant artists. 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” traced the roots of the seminal rap group N.W.A. and their rise to fame, becoming one of the most influential acts of the gangsta rap and West Coast hip hop sub-genres. The film grossed more than $200 million and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
In 2002, Universal released “8 Mile,” which starred Eminem and contained autobiographical elements from his life as he attempted to launch a career in hip hop. The movie made nearly $250 million, and the song “Lose Yourself” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Brotter has recently rewritten the crypto thriller “Killing Satoshi” for Doug Liman and written an undisclosed music biopic for Mike Judge. Other credits include: “The Dukes of Oxy” for MGM, “Ron ZSiegler” for Amy Pascal, “Chasing Phil” for Team Downey, and his Black List script “Drudge.”
Brotter is repped by CAA, Manage-ment and Ziffren Brittenham. Walsh is repped by WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Chopra is repped by WME and Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc.
Deadline first reported the news.
The post Bon Jovi Biopic in the Works at Universal appeared first on TheWrap.
