EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures is making moves in the music biopic genre, following the success of “Bob Marley: One Love” with a highly anticipated film about the Bee Gees. And they’ve secured none other than acclaimed director Ridley Scott to helm the project. While the deal isn’t finalized yet, sources tell us that negotiations are underway and it’s looking promising. Scott will produce alongside Michael Pruss of Scott Free, Graham King of GK Films, and Stacey Snider. Paramount will distribute the film worldwide, with Amblin and Sister co-financing. Barry Gibb, one of the Bee Gees’ members, will serve as executive producer, and the script is written by John Logan.
This is an unexpected choice for Scott, known for his epic films, but there are several reasons why he was pursued for this project. First, his recent work on the sequel to “Gladiator” has impressed executives with its early footage. Scott has a reputation for quickly finding his next projects, so Paramount wasted no time in presenting him with the latest draft of the Bee Gees film.
Scott has a personal connection to the Bee Gees, dating back to his early directing career. The group’s longtime manager, Robert Stigwood, played a significant role in their success and also dabbled in movie producing. Stigwood once considered casting Scott in a medieval film starring the Bee Gees, although the project never materialized. However, Scott’s desire to work with the group remained, and now, almost 50 years later, he has the opportunity to tell their story.
This project also reunites Scott with screenwriter John Logan, with whom he previously collaborated on “Gladiator” and “Alien: Covenant.” Logan has also worked with producer Graham King on projects like “Rango” and “The Aviator,” as well as the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic.
Paramount acquired the life rights to the Gibb family estate in 2019, along with the rights to the Bee Gees’ classic songs. The film is expected to follow the successful formula of the Oscar-nominated “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The Bee Gees were one of the best-selling groups of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide. Their journey from folk and soft rock to disco stardom, fueled by their contributions to the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, earned them five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Despite their immense success, the backlash against disco in the late ’70s put them on the defensive. The group disbanded after the sudden death of Maurice Gibb in 2003 but reunited in 2009. Robin Gibb passed away three years later.
Next up for Ridley Scott is the highly anticipated sequel to “Gladiator,” set to release on November 22. The film stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal.
