Madonna, Richard Pryor, and the Bee Gees are among the celebs whose biopics have been in development for years, if not decades.

10 celebrity biopics we’re still waiting to see

Madonna, Richard Pryor, and the Bee Gees are among the celebs whose biopics have been in development for years, if not decades.

June 9, 2026 5:17 p.m. ET

Richard Pryor; Madonna; Barry Gibb. Credit:

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty; Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Michael Putland/Getty

Biopics are tricky to get right, but as the success of this year's *Michael* and 2024's *A Complete Unknown* have shown, they can be worth the risk.

Several of the most anticipated celebrity biopics have taken years — if not decades — to make it into production. Even when the celebrity in question or their estate gives their blessing or is heavily involved (see: Madonna), biopics tend to have a much longer road to the screen, perhaps *because* of that involvement.

For every *Bohemian Rhapsody* (2018) or *Elvis* (2022), there are several equally (if not *more*) compelling biopics waiting in the wings, some of which may never get made.

Below, we take a look at 10 long-developing celebrity biopics that we're *still* waiting to see, including a few that are closer than ever to becoming a reality.

Madonna performing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 4, 2024.

PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty

Madonna's biopic was officially announced in 2020, followed by a prolonged casting process that involved putting actresses — including Florence Pugh and Alexa Demie — through a daunting singing-and-dancing boot camp. Julia Garner won the role in 2022, but Madonna pivoted to focus on her next album and a world tour the following year, thus delaying the project. Numerous screenwriters have taken a crack at the biopic, which Madonna was set to direct herself.

Though the film is on indefinite hiatus, Madonna and Garner are set to appear in *The Studio*'s second season as part of a meta plotline about the long-developing biopic. Madonna also teased the biopic in her recent short film for the new album *Confessions II*, which features Garner as the queen of pop alongside 14 other cameos, including Odessa A'Zion and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor. Everett Collection

A biopic about the late comedian shepherded by his wife, Jennifer Lee Pryor, has been in the works for over a decade. Actors Marlon Wayans, Eddie Murphy, and Mike Epps were reportedly in the mix to play Richard Pryor at various points in development, with Epps eventually winning the part. Lee Daniels (2013's *The Butler*) was expected to direct, but exited the project in 2016.

*Black-ish* creator Kenya Barris signed on to direct in 2020, and in 2024 he told *Variety* that the biopic has become "a 10-part limited biographical series that takes a look from cradle to grave."

As for Epps, the actor and comedian revealed that he's no longer involved in the biopic during a 2024 podcast appearance, though he did get to play Pryor in the HBO series *Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty*.

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin. David Gahr/Getty Images

A Janis Joplin biopic has been in the works for so long that it became a famous bit on *30 Rock*, with Jane Krakowski's Jenna signing on to star in a *very* unofficial movie about the rock legend — renamed "Jackie Jormp-Jomp" to avoid litigation.

Since the '90s, various actresses have been attached to play Joplin in an official biopic, including the late Brittany Murphy, Michelle Williams, and Amy Adams.

The current iteration is in development with Shailene Woodley attached to play Joplin, and working with 4 Non Blondes frontwoman Linda Perry to prep for the part. "I've been waiting decades for this movie to be made," Perry told *** *in 2024. "There are no words to convey how honored I am to be included in what I believe to be a raw and honest look into Janis Joplin's last days."

Cher performing at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 19, 2024.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

In typical diva fashion, Cher announced her own biopic in 2021. The project, set up at Universal Pictures, was being written by the iconic singer's longtime friend, Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth, whose credits include 1994's *Forrest Gump *and the 1987 thriller *Suspect*, in which Cher starred.

Roth revealed that Cher passed on his script in 2024, because "it was not how she wanted to be portrayed," but he noted that the two remain good friends. The biopic appears to still be in development, though a new screenwriter has not yet been announced.

Get in tune with these 18 upcoming music biopics

The 31 best Netflix movies based on true stories streaming now

The Bee Gees. Michael Putland/Getty Images

The Bee Gees movie has been in development for a couple of decades, with Steven Spielberg hoping to direct a biopic under his Amblin banner before joining the most recent iteration, set up at Paramount, as a producer.

Ridley Scott, who revealed to *GQ** *in 2025 that he almost made a movie with the trio in the ’70s, has been attached to direct the Bee Gees biopic for several years. In that same interview, he said that he'd reached an impasse with Paramount after "the studio changed the goalposts" regarding his deal. "They didn’t like my deal. So I said, I’ll move on," Scott said. "I’m expensive, but I’m f---ing good."

Ronnie Spector

Ronnie Spector. Jordi Vidal/Redferns

In 2020, *Variety* revealed that Ronnie Spector handpicked Zendaya to play her in a biopic based on her 1990 autobiography, *Be My Baby*, which she cowrote with Vince Waldron.

The Ronettes frontwoman passed away in 2022, but Zendaya — who honored Spector in a touching tribute on Instagram — remains attached to star in the biopic, which is being produced by New Regency and A24.

Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning director of 2016's *Moonlight*, signed on to helm the Spector biopic in 2025, per *Deadline*.

Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell. Jesse Grant/Getty Images

Back in 2012, Taylor Swift was reportedly circling the role of folk icon Joni Mitchell in an adaptation of Sheila Weller's *Girls Like Us*, about the influential careers of Mitchell, Carly Simon, and Carole King. Per *Rolling Stone*, Mitchell revealed in 2014 that she "squelched" the project, calling the script "a lot of gossip" and knocking Swift's casting. "I said to the producer, ‘All you’ve got is a girl with high cheekbones,'" said Mitchell.

In 2025, filmmaker Cameron Crowe announced that he's directing a biopic that he's been working on for several years. Crowe's longtime friendship with Mitchell dates back to his days as a music journalist for *Rolling Stone*, a period he explored in the 2000 film *Almost Famous*.

Earlier this year, record producer Clive Davis confirmed that Meryl Streep is playing Mitchell in the biopic, with Anya Taylor-Joy rumored to be playing the younger version of the singer.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. Everett Collection

It's been 26 years since ABC released *The Audrey Hepburn Story*, an authorized made-for-TV biopic starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. Yet there still hasn't been a proper big-screen biopic about the late British actress — not for lack of trying.

*Emily in Paris* star Lily Collins has been working on a biopic starring herself as Hepburn for a decade. This February, Collins revealed that the film is finally moving forward, writing on Instagram, "Honored and ecstatic don't begin to express how I feel."

Based on Sam Wasson's *New York Times* best-selling book *Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.*, the film will explore the making of Hepburn's classic 1961 rom-com, *Breakfast at Tiffany's*.

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire in 'Top Hat'.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

Tom Holland confirmed in 2021 that he'd signed on to portray Fred Astaire in a biopic from *Paddington *(2014) director Paul King. The announcement sparked backlash from fans of the late Hollywood icon, who is rumored to have included a clause in his will preventing the making of any movies about his life. While the existence of that clause has not been confirmed, it might explain why there's never been a biopic film or TV series about Astaire or his performing partner, Ginger Rogers.

As for Holland, he confirmed to *GQ* this year that he's still working on the Astaire biopic.

Candy Darling

Candy Darling in 1971.

Jack Mitchell/Getty

Though she's been portrayed on screen by Stephen Dorff in *I Shot Andy Warhol* (1996) and drag queen Willam in the 2011 HBO movie *Cinema Verite*, Candy Darling has never been the subject of her own biopic. That's strange given the actress' influence on Andy Warhol and legendary musicians like Lou Reed and the Rolling Stones.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

A biopic about the late trans icon has been in the works since at least 2019, when *Transparent*'s Stephanie Kornick was tapped to write the screenplay. Actress and model Hari Nef formally signed on to portray Darling in 2022, telling *Vogue* in 2025 that she had decided to write the screenplay herself. "It’s why I need to tell this story, because it makes me feel less alone," said Nef, who is also trans, "and I know that so many girls feel that way about her."

- Biopic Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Biopic”