Ridley Scott's Next Film is the Bee Gees Biopic

Remember last November when Ridley Scott told The New Yorker that he was location scouting and storyboarding his next film, a western, presumable set shoot in March/April? That was rumored to be his take on S. Craig Zahler’s novel “Wraiths of the Broken Land.” Well, that entire project’s been put in the backburner.

Instead, I’m told, Scott’s next film will be his Bee Gees biopic which was originally supposed to be directed by Kenneth Branagh. John Logan has written the screenplay, which is rumored to be titled “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?”. Scott is now the fourth director to helm this project after Branagh, John Carney and Lorene Scafaria.

With music biopics being a hot thing these days in Hollywood, Paramount has decided to fast track the Bee Gees biopic for a possible 2025 release. No casting has been revealed, but I presume we’re going to be getting something announced very soon.

The Bee Gees were a highly successful musical group who produced hit after hit during the ‘70s disco era — those songs included the likes of “Staying Alive” and “How Deep is Your Love.” They also revolutionized movie music with their exemplary work on the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack.

Scott, 86, is attached to direct four other projects. Firstly, there’s the aforementioned “Wraiths of the Broken Land,” his adaptation of Kevin McMullin’s short story “BOMB,” the Wall Street thriller “Big Dogs” and the spy thriller “Queen & Country.” I would have gladly accepted any of these over the Bee Gees movie.

Up next for Scott is the release of the much-anticipated “Gladiator II” on November 22.