Hollywood is hot, hot, hot for movies based on real-life figures right now. And, fortunately for the rest of us, that means there’s plenty of biopics on the way that are already generating serious buzz. Who doesn’t love a behind-the-scenes look at a fascinating person?
Some of the fascinating people being played on film in the near future are inspirational, like Fred Rogers. Others are objects of dark curiosity, like Lizzie Borden. Either way, we all want to peer behind the curtain and see a more in-depth version of the person portrayed on-screen.
Even better? In addition to the must-see biopics we’re including here, there are more on the horizon. Many are in early development and don’t have a studio or a cast attached to the project yet, but you can trust that as soon as they do, this list will be updated to reflect those exciting endeavors as well (here’s looking at you, J.K. Rowling biopic).
For now, mark the dates for the following biopics on your calendar.
‘Lucy & Desi’
Cate Blanchett is set to star as iconic Lucille Ball in a biopic based on memoirs written by the children of Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr. According to IMDb, the film will focus not only on their relationship but also on their business dealings. After Arnaz sold his stake in Desilu Productions, Ball became the first woman to own a major studio.
The biopic, which was written by Aaron Sorkin, does not yet have a release date. Producers are still seeking actors to play Arnaz as well as the couple's I Love Lucy BFFs, Fred and Ethel.
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
How do you fill boots as big as Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury's? Ask Rami Malek, who's been tapped in the upcoming biopic about the band leading up to their performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Malek said he did a ton of research up front to nail Mercury's distinctive personality.
“I would consistently go back to his interviews and performances just to understand the [different] sides of him,” the Mr. Robot star said. “Obviously, there is a very brave, brash entertainer who hits the stage. And then there is a human being who can be reclusive and lonely behind closed doors. It was a challenge just to correlate who this person was — someone who had grown up in Zanzibar and got shipped off to school in Bombay, and upon his return to Zanzibar, fled a revolution with his family and went to London. That type of childhood is emblematic of someone who is starving for identity.”
‘On the Basis of Sex’
Could we be any more excited about this biopic based on the story of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Nope! Judging by the trailer, it's going to capture the true essence of the Notorious RBG and her struggle for equality — smart, sassy, brave and rebellious.
Felicity Jones will fill the role of Ginsburg. Justin Theroux, Armie Hammer and Kathy Bates also star in the film, which is set for release on Christmas Day.
‘Reagan’
Admittedly, we weren't convinced when we first heard that Dennis Quaid would be bringing Ronald Reagan to life on the big screen. However, looking at Quaid now, it's impossible to deny that he does actually resemble our former president. And we all know he can pull off Reagan's trademark charisma.
Per IMDb, Reagan will be a sweeping drama "based on the life of Ronald Reagan, from his childhood to his time in the Oval Office." Although no release date has been announced, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that shooting will begin this fall.
In preparation for the biopic, producer Mark Joseph met with 50 of Reagan's friends, confidantes and cabinet members so he could authentically capture the late president's life. As far as who would play Reagan, Joseph told THR it was an easy call. "Dennis was always our first choice. He's one of the great actors of our time," he said.
Untitled Leonardo da Vinci Biopic
It's being hailed as the part Leonardo DiCaprio was born for — the Oscar-winning actor will play iconic painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci in a biopic based on Walter Isaacson's eponymous book.
The film will be produced by Paramount, which has hired James Bond screenwriter John Logan to adapt the biography. DiCaprio will also produce the film under his Appian Way banner.
Per Variety, the role brings things full circle for DiCaprio. His mother chose the artist as his namesake when she felt her baby kick for the first time while she was looking at a da Vinci piece in Florence, Italy.
‘Lizzie’
If you ask us, eccentric, brilliant Chloë Sevigny can do no wrong — which is why we're excited to see the Academy Award nominee's Lizzie Borden passion project make it to the big screen.
To be clear, the film isn't being billed as a pure biopic; rather, it will be "a psychological thriller based on the infamous 1892 murders of the Borden family." It is a reimagining of one of history's most legendary murderers, with Sevigny playing the title role. Kristen Stewart stars as a maid who becomes intimately involved with Borden, and the chemistry between the two is already being hailed as "electric."
Check out the suspenseful trailer now, and judge for yourself when the movie hits theaters on Sept. 14.
‘First Man’
First Man brings back together the Academy Award-winning La La Landcombo of Ryan Gosling and director Damien Chazelle — and we are here for it. The Universal Pictures film is based on the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong, with a specific focus on the legendary NASA mission that made Armstrong the first man to walk on the moon.
The film will also explore Armstrong's personal sacrifices and the toll his devotion to his duty took on his life. To that end, The Crown's Claire Foy plays Armstrong's wife. Judging by the trailer, she's captivating, as per usual.
The film is set for release on Oct. 12.
‘You Are My Friend’
Why, yes, Tom Hanks, we would love to be your neighbor! The world could use a little more Mr. Rogers right now, and Hanks is here to make that happen. TriStar Pictures snagged the rights to You Are My Friend, a movie about Fred Rogers, the beloved host of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Hanks is set to star because sometimes life just makes sense. Matthew Rhys has also been cast, but his role is unclear at this point.
Although the film is widely hyped as a biopic, director Marielle Heller insists it doesn't technically fall under that umbrella. "I disliked that when it got announced, it was characterized as such. It’s really not. It’s a movie that’s largely focused on a reporter and (Mr. Rogers’) relationship to his life, and how (the reporter’s) whole world changes when coming in contact with Fred Rogers," she told Entertainment Weekly.
This not-a-biopic will hit theaters in October 2019.
‘Fonzo’
If anyone can do justice to the job of playing notorious gangster Al Capone, it's Tom Hardy. He'll be taking a crack at it in director Josh Trank's biopic following a 47-year-old Capone, who has served his prison sentence but suffers from dementia caused by syphilis and is "haunted by his violent past."
On Aug. 8, Trank released a photo of a barely recognizable Hardy in Fonzo that should pique your interest in the film. (Hardy shared one, too.) Also worth noting: The cast, Hardy included, is stellar — Linda Cardellini, Matt Dillon, Noel Fisher and Kyle MacLachlan also star.
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