Prince-inspired musical film currently in the works
Universal Pictures plans to make an original musical film inspired by Prince’s music. The studio worked with the Prince estate to acquire the rights to a number of the late artist’s songs.
However, the film won’t be a biopic. Sources state that they felt 1984’s Purple Rain, inspired by Prince’s own life, covered the biopic angle. Instead, the film is an original fictional narrative inspired by the music of Prince, similar to ABBA and Mamma Mia!.
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Variety reports that Prince’s estate has been wanting to do a movie like this for some time, ultimately settling on Universal Pictures for the studio.
Both entertainment adviser of Prince’s estate Troy Carter and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group Jody Gerson have both signed on as executive producers for the film. Universal Music Publishing is the exclusive worldwide publishing administrator for Prince’s catalog.
Prince sold 100 million records worldwide before his death in 2016. He’s also won seven Grammys and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2004.
Universal Pictures has put out musical movies such as Mamma Mia!, Pitch Perfect and Les Miserables. The studio is also signed on for the film adaption of Cats for next year.
Musical biopics have been on the rise with the recent success of Straight Outta Compton and this year’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
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Bohemian Rhapsody was the second highest-grossing music biopic in history on its opening weekend, grossing over $43 million. This week, it surpassed N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton.
The Queen biopic starred Rami Malek as frontman Freddie Mercury. The rock band recently announced the Rhapsody tour, recruiting Adam Lambert yet again for vocals.
The Rhapsody tour will have Lambert joining remaining co-founders, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, for 23 shows. Lambert first joined Queen on tour in 2012 and has toured with them three times since.
“This is a great opportunity,” May says. “Our last tour featured our most ambitious production ever, and got us our best notices ever. So we decided to rip it apart and get even more ambitious. Watch out, America!”
We are ready for America and raring to get back in the saddle,” Taylor added.
