A feature film about the legendary rock band Bon Jovi is officially moving forward after Universal Pictures secured the rights in a competitive Hollywood bidding war.
According to Deadline, Universal executives have acquired the rights to develop a biopic centered on the iconic 1980s rock group.
Actor and writer Cody Brotter has been tapped to write the script. The production will reportedly have access to Bon Jovi’s extensive music catalog, including major hits such as You Give Love a Bad Name and Livin’ on a Prayer.
The film will also have cooperation from frontman Jon Bon Jovi, giving the project direct insight into the band’s story.
So far, casting details and the film’s director have not been announced, and representatives for the band have not publicly commented on the project.
The biopic is expected to focus on the group’s formation in New Jersey in 1983 and their rapid rise to global fame.
Bon Jovi’s breakout moment came with the release of their third studio album, Slippery When Wet, in 1986. The album propelled the band into worldwide stardom and led to a major international tour.
The band’s current lineup includes Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarists Phil X and John Shanks, bassist Hugh McDonald, and percussionist Everett Bradley.
Two original members who are no longer part of the group include guitarist Richie Sambora and bassist Alec John Such, who died in 2022.
Bon Jovi was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, cementing its legacy as one of rock music’s most influential acts.
The group most recently released its sixteenth studio album, Forever, in June 2024. The project marked their first major release since Jon Bon Jovi underwent vocal cord surgery in 2022.
Universal Pictures has developed several high-profile music biopics in recent years and also holds the rights to the upcoming Michael Jackson film Michael, which is scheduled for release in April.
