When choosing films for our outdoor series, we always look an artistic theme to it, rather than measure its entertainment value. We truly feel that film is an art, and there are many different ways to express this form.

For next Saturday’s selection of Jailhouse Rock, we were basing this selection of bands or musicians who made the move to film. Sometimes it’s for money, while other times it’s to express themselves in a different way. Usually, though, we’ve found that it’s for money.

But Hollywood recently has taken the approach to start creating films based off of famous musicians, or the music behind them. And that’s why we decided on an Elvis film. We felt that he really came into his own the more he got exposed to being in front of the camera.

With that, let’s look at some of the other films that will soon be released about famous musicians.

Boy George

Deadline reported that MGM will produce a feature film based on the life of the iconic singer.

The untitled Boy George film will explore his humble beginnings in an Irish a working-class family, through his rise to the top of the international charts with the ’80s band Culture Club. The larger-than-life George never disguised who he was – a fearless, ruthlessly honest young man with an open identity who was years ahead of his time.

The Grammy-winning artist has sold more than 100 million singles and over 50 million albums as a performer and songwriter with Culture Club, and also as a solo artist. Away from his musical achievements, George is the author of two bestselling autobiographies and was the co-producer, songwriter and onstage star of the award-winning musical Taboo on Broadway and London’s West End.

“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.”

Aretha Franklin

MGM is also producing a biopic about the late Aretha Franklin, starring Jennifer Hudson. Hudson announced the film last January.

Judy Garland

Judy, set for a September 27 release, stars Renée Zellweger as the star of stage and screen. Though Garland was primarily a movie actress, Judy fits the bill here in part because the film revolves around her sold-out concert run in London in 1968. 
 

Céline Dion

Céline Dion is also getting the cinematic treatment, though not in a straightforward biopic. In January, Variety reported that French studio Gaumont is working on The Power of Love, a $23 million musical heavily inspired by the Canadian singer’s life; it will also, naturally, feature many of Dion’s greatest hits. Valerie Lemercier will both direct and star in the biopic, playing “Aline,” a Canadian girl who becomes a global superstar and, later, suffers a tragic family loss. It’s essentially a shadow biopic, dressing things up here and there with fiction.

Bruce Springsteen

Blinded by the Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), is set in 1987 and revolves around Javed, a Pakistani-British teen who’s obsessed with Bruce Springsteen. He’s so inspired by the Boss that he starts dressing like him, writing song lyrics, and even traveling to the U.S. to visit Springsteen’s hometown.

 

The Beatles

We shared this one on our Facebook page a few weeks ago, but we’re really excited about the release of Yesterday. Imagine waking up in a world where the Beatles never existed. That’s the premise of Yesterday, Danny Boyle’s upcoming comedy about everyone forgetting the Fab Four—except one guy, Jack (Himesh Patel). He takes it upon himself to re-create the band’s biggest songs, which in turn makes him a major pop star. Written by Richard Curtis (Love Actually), Yesterday also stars Lily James and Kate McKinnon, featuring a cameo by known cameo-lover Ed Sheeran.