If it worked for Freddie Mercury, and it appears to be destined to work for Elton John, the next logical step in the rock musical biopic is clearly Boy George. No? Well, don’t tell that to MGM, as the studio is moving ahead with a biopic about the Culture Club singer and ‘80s icon.
According to Deadline, MGM has hired filmmaker Sacha Gervasi to write and direct a film about the life of Boy George. If you’re not someone that has an affinity for ‘80s music, then you may not know much about George Alan O’Dowd, aka Boy George. The singer is responsible for hits like “Karma Chameleon”, “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and “Time (Clock of the Heart).” Sure, he’s no Freddie Mercury or Elton John, but there’s probably enough music to fill up an hour-and-a-half.
Gervasi is probably best known for his films “My Dinner with Herve” and “Anvil: The Story of Anvil.” The former is the recent HBO biopic starring Peter Dinklage that received pretty good reviews last year. The latter is one of the best rock docs of recent memory, focusing on the underappreciated Canadian metal group. Gervasi seems prepared to tackle the rise of a pop music icon like Boy George.
“There is no filmmaker better suited than Sacha Gervasi to tell George’s confessional story with the irreverence and emotion it deserves,” said Jonathan Glickman, MGM’s Motion Picture Group President. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with both of them to bring this remarkably honest and wildly entertaining tale to audiences around the world.”
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The filmmaker seems just as excited to bring the story of Boy George to life, calling the pop star “a trailblazer and a true original. In the London clubs of the 80s, George was impossible to miss and everyone knew he would be a star long before the world had ever heard a note of Culture Club’s iconic songs. As you can imagine, George’s life story is wickedly entertaining, yet also poignant and inspiring. I’m both honored and excited to be the one to guide it onto the big screen.”
No release date has been set, but with the popularity of rock biopics, you can bet that MGM is going to fast-track this.