With “Bob Marley: One Love” potentially becoming a box office hit for Paramount Pictures, the studio has decided to move fast on another music biopic, and they want to hire a marquee filmmaker to direct it.
While a deal isn’t done, sources tell Deadline that none other than Ridley Scott is in negotiations to direct Paramount’s untitled Bee Gees movie. John Logan wrote the script. Scott is now the fourth director to helm this project — the first three were Kenneth Branagh, John Carney and Lorene Scafaria.
Apparently, what convinced the studio to seek out Scott for this Bee Gees biopic was footage from his upcoming ‘Gladiator II’ which, reportedly, “blew execs away” at Paramount.
The Bee Gees were the highly successful musical group who produced hit after hit during the ‘70s disco era — those songs included the likes of “Staying Alive” and “How Deep is Your Love.” They also revolutionized movie music with their own exemplary work on the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack.
Scott, 86, is already attached to direct two other projects. Firstly, there’s his adaptation of Kevin McMullin’s short story “BOMB.” He’s also supposed to shoot, next month, his take on Craig S. Zahler’s “Wraiths of the Broken Land.” Does this guy ever sleep?
I’m not complaining about how prolific Scott has been the last decade. Although he’s been hit and miss throughout his 50-year career, he’s still the guy who directed “Blade Runner” and “Alien.”
Scott’s “Napoleon” will have its Apple TV streaming debut on March 1. Still no word yet on when we can expect Scott’s 210 minute director’s cut of that film. Meanwhile, “Gladiator II” will be theatrically released on November 22, 2024.