Bee Gees fans are protective over the history of the band and many were divided when the news of a biopic of the band’s career was first announced.
After Paramount Pictures most recent biopic Bob Marley: One Love hit cinemas, the production company is now turning its attention to the Bee Gees.
The sole surviving Bee Gees member Barry Gibb will executive produce the film alongside Penny Dreadful’s John Logan writing the script.
And now, according to Deadline, it’s been confirmed that Alien and Napoleon filmmaker Ridley Scott will helm the project.
The group’s connection to cinema began in 1960 when the band’s long-term manager, Robert Stigwood, played a part in wanting the movie to be produced about the start of their career.
Unfortunately, the film never came to fruition but the desire to tell the story of the Gibb brothers has always remained – with Scott finally getting the chance 50 years later.
Bee Gees formed in 1958 and quickly became a hot sensation
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Paramount recently obtained the life rights to the Gibb family estate in 2019 as well as the rights to the band’s classic songs, meaning it could follow the template of the Oscar-nominated, Bohemian Rhapsody.
The news of the biopic has left some Bee Gees fans unsure of how they feel, with one X user commenting: “Ridley Scott films are so hit and miss. Wonder how this would turn out.”
“That’s a interesting choice for him and I think it’s a good story to tell for sure,” another added as a third penned: “Ridley Scott in 2000s was incredible and outstanding.
“Today, definitely not bad, but he is capable to do the best and or the worst. We will see.”
“That’s an odd combo,” one unsure user noted before a fifth echoed: “What a monumentally bad idea.” (sic)
This type of film isn’t the usual style for Scott, but after wrapping up production for the Gladiator sequel, Scott was quick off the mark to get the ball rolling on the new project.
During their prime, the Bee Gees had worldwide sales of more than 220 million records, establishing them as one of the biggest-selling groups of all time.
The Gibb brothers began performing together in the late 1950s, but it wasn’t until they wrote their songs for the Saturday Night Fever album in 1977 they shot to stardom.