Introduction
The long-awaited Bee Gees biopic, tentatively titled You Should Be Dancing after the group’s iconic 1976 hit, has faced a series of setbacks despite initial excitement. Over the years, the film has gone through several directors, including Kenneth Branagh, Once director John Carney, and Hustlers filmmaker Lorene Scafaria, before eventually landing in the hands of acclaimed director Ridley Scott.
At one point, the project seemed poised to move forward quickly. Scott had even mentioned to Film Stories that the screenplay—written by John Logan—was slated to begin production right after he completed work on Gladiator II. However, things didn’t go as planned.
In a recent conversation on the Kermode & Mayo’s Take podcast, Scott disclosed that creative differences with the studio caused an unexpected delay.
“I was right up to the threshold of Bee Gees, and the studio changed the footprint,” Scott explained. “I didn’t like it… they didn’t like the deal, so I stepped away. I said, ‘Be warned, I’ve got another one ready.’”
That “other” project he referred to is The Dog Stars, a new film he will begin shooting in collaboration with 20th Century Studios in April 2025. As for the Bee Gees biopic, Scott suggested that there might be a possibility of returning to the project as early as September. But considering the film’s rocky development history, its future remains uncertain.
The project has also sparked a wave of interest around its potential cast. RJ Gibb, son of Robin Gibb, previously shared that he had discussed actor Rami Malek—best known for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody—as a possible choice to play his father.
“I have injected Rami’s name into conversations,” RJ revealed. “Nothing is written in stone, but I think that would be great.”
In addition, Bradley Cooper was reportedly considered for the role of Barry Gibb. RJ confirmed these rumors, saying, “Bradley Cooper is a candidate to play Uncle Barry. He has been approached and we’ll see.”
While this would be the first major dramatized feature film focusing solely on the Bee Gees’ story, it’s not their first appearance on the big screen. The brothers previously starred in the 1969 film Cucumber Castle, took part in the 1978 musical film Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and were the central focus of the critically praised 2020 documentary The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, directed by Frank Marshall.
Interestingly, Frank Marshall is currently directing a new authorized documentary about Fleetwood Mac for Apple Original Films. Meanwhile, fans continue to hope that the Bee Gees’ extraordinary legacy will finally receive the cinematic tribute it deserves.