This June will see the release of Love & Mercy, the Brian Wilson biopic with Paul Dano and John Cusack splitting duties as the iconic Beach Boys frontman. It can add its name to the rapidly ballooning list of Hollywood’s latest craze: biopics.
Biopics have sort of become to Oscar season what superheroes are to the summer. They’re an easy way for an actor to make a bid for greatness, and the films always somehow feel important. Four of 2014’s eight Best Picture nominees were biopics, as were five of 2013’s nine. They can be very good (Malcolm X, Lincoln) or very bad (J. Edgar, The Doors) but to their credit, they’re almost always interesting. You want to see how actors bring these familiar characters to life.
Nevertheless, we may be reaching biopic saturation. Here is a list of biopics slated for upcoming release:
###Steve Jobs
With Michael Fassbender
Right now, Danny Boyle is set to direct Michael Fassbender as the famously contentious tech genius.
###Icon
With Ben Foster
The Lance Armstrong scandal isn’t even cold in the grave and there’s already a movie on the way.
###Miles Ahead
With Don Cheadle
Don Cheadle is writing, directing and starring in his biopic of jazz musician Miles Davis.
###I Saw the Light
With Tom Hiddleston
It remains to be seen if Hiddleston can nail Hank Williams’ legendarily self-destructive personality.
###Get It While You Can
With Amy Adams
With Adams starring, this attempt to tell the story of Janis Joplin may be destined for the most success.
###Nina
With Zoe Saldana
Saldana is putting her considerable action prowess to use playing jazz pianist Nina Simone.
