The king of rock 'n' roll has spoken – and Mick Jagger's interest in a Rolling Stones biopic is music to fans' ears! The legendary frontman dropped a bombshell during an exclusive chat with GQ, hinting that the band's epic story could be brought to life on the big screen. This tantalising prospect comes hot on the heels of Sam Mendes' ambitious four-film project chronicling The Beatles' remarkable journey.
Jagger was candid about the appeal of a cinematic treatment for the Stones, but also highlighted the challenges in distilling their extraordinary life story into a coherent narrative. He pointed out that biopics typically focus on a specific period, often sandwiched between broader contextual elements – much like the forthcoming Bob Dylan film 'A Complete Unknown', which explores the legendary singer-songwriter's pivotal shift from folk to electric music.
As someone who's had his finger in the pie of film production, Jagger drew on his experience with the 2014 biopic 'Get On Up', which he produced. The James Brown story, starring Chadwick Boseman, spanned a slightly longer period than the two-year window Jagger suggested the Dylan film might focus on. When pushed to reveal which era of the Stones' storied history he'd choose to depict, Jagger confessed, 'I don't know which section, because it's a long period.'
Speculation surrounding a Rolling Stones film has been simmering for years – and with good reason. Back in 2012, Virgin acquired rights to Robert Greenfield's book 'Exile On Main Street: A Season In Hell With The Rolling Stones', planning to adapt the band's tumultuous 1971 recording sessions in the South of France into a film. This project briefly re-emerged in 2016 with director Andy Goddard attached, but ultimately stalled.
Jagger himself has a rich history on screen, having starred in films like Nicolas Roeg's 'Performance' and 'Ned Kelly'. He also co-created and executive-produced the HBO drama 'Vinyl' with Martin Scorsese, which dived into the 1970s music industry. These latest comments from Jagger come as The Rolling Stones prepare to unleash their brand-new album, 'Foreign Tongues', on July 10 – accompanied by an official podcast that's set to fuel fans' anticipation even further.