Biopics that follow the lives of famous musicians have been made consistently as they can practically write themselves and have built-in audiences. While the quality of these films runs the gambit, they've become a staple genre that has even given quirky artists like Weird Al the treatment. The subgenre has also gotten major box numbers with films like Rocketman and awards hype with films like Bohemian Rhapsody, the fever-dream that is Baz Lurhman's Elvis and 's Ray.
And while I Wanna Dance With Somebody isn't receiving the attention many expected it to have, it's clear there is still a market for this type of storytelling. But despite the plethora of musicians and personalities these films have explored, plenty of icons have been left on the table. So, let's dust off some old records and find out the greatest performers whose stories haven't seen the silver screen.
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Stevie Wonder has been a staple of American music since Barry Gordy discovered the child prodigy at 11 and signed him to his Motown label under the moniker of Little Stevie Wonder. By all accounts, Wonder defied the conventional child star experience and maintained a compassionate and hard-working attitude his entire life. In fact, when looking at his career from a birds-eye view, it shakes out like a perfect three-act structure. The first act would place the audience in Wonder's shoes as he enters the legendary Motown world and end with him claiming his spot in it. The second could focus on the height of his career when he pushed his genre to new heights and collaborated with famous musicians like Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. The third would wrap up the story by touching on his activism and close with his tear-jerking performance of "Imagine" at the Olympic opening ceremony.
Unless their big band fans, most modern audiences' image of Duke Ellington is Jordan Peele's ghostly portrayal of the jazz giant in Netflix's Big Mouth. But whileDuke is one of the best running gags in that show, his legacy deserves a look through the cinematic lens. Most music scholars consider Ellington one of the most influential voices in modern music, thanks to how he shaped jazz during the genre's infancy. The best thing about adapting Ellington's life into a film is that his story could be told in countless ways. It could be a start-to-finish retelling of his life, watch his rise to prominence in the Roaring '20s or follow him on one of his tours with famous players popping up along the way.
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Fleetwood Mac's legacy has been on many music fans' minds with the recent passing of founding member Christine McVie. The quintet's beautiful lyricism and hypnotic tones have created some of the most memorable songs of the s and '80s with tracks like "Dreams" and "The Chain." But in addition to their iconic music, the band is known for their messy behind-the-scenes drama. For those unfamiliar, there are two distinct eras of Fleetwood Mac. The first was a British Blues trio that couldn't find a steady guitarist, one of which mysteriously disappeared, never to be heard from again. The second -- and more recognizable -- was the tumultuous roster that brought Americana Folk duo Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham into the fold. During this era, the band recorded their seminal album Rumors while one couple in the band was getting a divorce and the other was splitting up due to an affair. If that doesn't scream rock-n-roll biopic, nothing does.
The Talking Heads' frontman, David Byrne, has an impossible mind to unpack. But the culture is unable to stop itself from trying. The band heralded the rise of New Wave and is among the most inquisitive groups of the '80s, thanks to their avant-garde aura. This energy could provide the perfect opportunity for someone like Baz Luhrmann, who's no stranger to musicals, to have the time of their life by putting songs like "Once in a Lifetime" or "Psycho Killer" to film. While the group hasn't reunited since , their music is still as relevant as ever, with Byrne's Broadway production American Utopia gaining a following on HBO Max. A Talking Heads phase seems to be mandatory for any art kid, so there will always be an audience for their story.
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When most people think of Frank Sinatra, they picture grandmas and Christmas carols. But the Ratpack star's silky voice isn't the only reason people fell in love with him. Beyond his musical talents, Sinatra led a life that could only have happened in the golden era of Hollywood and midth century America. Even after being a marquee name and starring in massive films, Sinatra wasn't afraid to walk into a New York dive bar and strike up a conversation with a stranger. He was also a staunch Democratic activist who advocated for an end to segregation in the '50s and campaigned for many presidents, one being his close friend JFK. There are also many rumors regarding Sinatra's ties to organized crime, which only helped deepen the cloud of mystique he carried throughout his life.
A Marvin Gaye movie has been in the works at Warner Bros. but has sadly remained in a development loop for nearly a decade. Gaye's music perfectly encapsulates his life, as it is full of love and tragedy. He is considered one of the quintessential protest music writers thanks to his album What's Goin' On, which he released independently. Despite his inner demons and personal struggles, Gaye always advocated for peace and love. And this mentality ultimately brought him to his end when he was killed in by his father after trying to split up a fight between his parents at their Los Angeles home. Only 44 at the time of his death, there is no telling what great music the man could have helped bring to the world if his life hadn't been cut short. Hopefully, the biopic's producer Dr. Dre will be able to convince David Zaslav not to cancel the project.