Unique: Days after their reunion for the first time in nearly 40 years, we can reveal that UK band Frankie Goes To Hollywood is the working title and subject of a new movie biopic from UK powerhouse sales and production company Independent Entertainment.
Topic relax After the group’s 1983 hit single, and based on frontman Holly Johnson’s memoir a bone in my fluteready to be a movie star It is a sin Breakout Calum Scott as Howells Johnson.
The project is going to the Cannes market with Independent handling sales, and we hear there is already strong interest in the package from potential buyers. Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce Working Title and Luke Rogg is producing for Independent Entertainment.
The film was written and will be directed by Bernard Rose, the director behind the original. relax Music Video, 1992 Horror Classic candy Manand the Howard Marks biopic mr nice, Additional casting is underway.
Universal Music, which lists the band, is understood to be supportive of the project which is due to feature their hits from the 80s.
Liverpudlian group, also known for number one hits two tribes And the power of lovewere among Britain’s biggest pop groups of the 80s.
However, they acrimoniously disbanded in 1987 – with reports of a fight before a gig at Wembley Stadium – and did not perform together again until Monday night when they performed in Liverpool ahead of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Played a song at a concert.
his controversial hit song relax, which celebrates gay love, was banned by the BBC in 1984 at number six in the charts. It later went on to top the UK Singles Chart for five weeks and became the sixth best-selling UK single of all time. In the US, the song peaked at number 10 on the Hot 100 and was voted song of the year by listeners of LA’s KROQ station. The film will trace the origins and influence of the song.
Howells was one of the breakout stars of Channel 4’s acclaimed 80s AIDS crisis drama It is a sin, The drama garnered 12 BAFTA nominations, including a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Howells.
Tim Bevan, co-chairman of Working Title, said: “Working Title is always looking to champion British stories and so this is an opportunity to shine a light on Frankie Goes To Hollywood, a British band who truly revolutionized the UK music industry, was a natural fit for us. Serving under the direction of Bernard Rose, the project will star exciting young talent, Callum Scott Howells in the lead, and have Independent Entertainment as partner. We can’t wait to get started.”
Luke Rogg of Independent Entertainment commented: “Frankie Goes To Hollywood was a boldly ground-breaking band that paved the way for so many young artists today. Incredibly exciting to partner with Working Title to bring their story to the screen.” We can’t think of anyone better than Bernard Rose and our talented young lead, Callum Scott Howells, to bring this iconic moment in pop history to life.
Rose said: “Combining the wit of The Beatles, the power of The Rolling Stones and the outrage of the Sex Pistols, Frankie Goes To Hollywood went from unemployed Liverpudlians to the Kings of Pop behind their epic banned records. relax, In 1984, he left behind Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Duran Duran. Their epic rise, catapulting the then-deep underground S+M and LGBTQ club scene into the limelight, is an energetic and moving tale of underdogs who win one for the ages. After Directing the Original ‘Banned,’ I Was Part of Much of the Hoopla relax video and I want to bring back the innocent and adventurous world of 1984 for a new audience today…”
bridget jones, Les Miserables And Billy Elliot Producer Working Title Most Recently Created What’s Love Got To Do With It? And matilda the musical, independent recently produced harry styles drama my policeman,
Rose is represented by Caserto Ramsay & Associates. Scott Howells is represented by Lou Coulson Associates and Anonymous Content.