One of the most iconic Australian groups of all-time are heading to the big screen, with Bohemian Rhapsody producer Graham King set to make a biopic all about the Bee Gees.
No matter how you slice it, the Bee Gees had themselves a rather impressive career. Having emigrated from England to Queensland in the ’50s, it wasn’t long before the Gibb brothers kicked off a musical career, releasing their debut album in 1965.
As their songs flowed, so did their albums, and by the time 1977 rolled around, the group became worldwide household names thanks to their Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
Although the following decades saw the group’s popularity wane only slightly, they remained mostly active until Maurice Gibb’s death in 2003. Although a brief reunion would kick off in 2012, the death of Robin Gibb put an end to that in 2012, leaving Barry Gibb as the sole surviving member.
Now, their impressive story is heading to the big screen, with the Hollywood Reporter revealing that Steven Spielberg is now attached to the high-profile project.
Check out ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees:
News of the upcoming film first broke a few days ago, with Deadline reporting that Paramount Pictures, Sister Pictures, and Bohemian Rhapsody producer Graham King were set to develop a feature-length film about the Bee Gees, one of the biggest-selling musical outfits of all-time.
However, THR now notes that Steven Spielberg has been added to the project, after his Amblin Entertainment company was left out in the cold.
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Reportedly, Spielberg had been aiming to make a biopic of this nature for close to a decade, with Barry Gibb and his family’s estate being reluctant to sign a “complicated legal document” to give the famed filmmaker the rights.
Now, it’s unclear how Paramount Pictures managed to wrangle the rights to the film, but when Spielberg discovered he was not involved, Paramount chief Jim Gianopulos was quick to cut a deal to ensure that he would be on board with the final project.
At this stage, details are yet to be released in regards to filming, casting, or anything of that nature. However, considering that a high-profile director like Steven Spielberg is now involved, and with a film based on an Australian musical outfit, we can only hope some local actors might find themselves cast for the big-name project.
Check out ‘Spicks & Specks’ by the Bee Gees:
