Singer Boy George has made an official announcement: he and the producers of his upcoming biopic Karma Chameleon have begun an international search to find the actor to play him in the film.
Deadline reports that Millenium Films–the production company behind the movie–has set a date this summer to begin filming. Writer/director Sacha Gervasi, the helmer behind the Alfred Hitchock biopic Hitchock, will write and direct the film.
Karma Chameleon will explore Boy Geroge’s beginnings as the son of a working-class Irishman all the way to international superstardom as the lead singer of the band Culture Club. The film is also expected to explore his struggles as a gay man, and the way his flamboyant image affected his career prospects.
Related: Boy George has some harsh words about that posthumous George Michael single
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“Now with Millennium Media coming on board, all of the elements are in place and I look forward to finding a dynamic lead,” producer Kevin King Templeton said of the announcement. “Having spent time with George over the last four years developing the film, it is important to me that his story gets told in a way that honors him.”
In a video posted to Instagram, Boy George himself confirmed casting on the film, announcing actor Danny Mays of 1917 fame will pay the role of his father. George also teased “there are rumors of Keanu Reeves popping in,” though no official announcement has been made.
Karma Chameleon films this summer in London and Bulgaria. Production of the film follows a string of hit biopics of queer singers, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The United States vs. Billie Holiday and Rocketman. The former three films all scored Oscar nominations for their leading actors.
Boy George was previously given the musical biography treatment with the Broadway musical Taboo, which became something of a notorious flop in 2003.
Fahd
I had forgotten about the 2003 Broadway musical that flopped, but I’m definitely looking forward to another biopic of a queer singer – this time Boy George. May it have the success of the other recent biopicsj! He’s terrific.
Cam
Ill tune in to see this.
Kangol2
He was a sensation when he and Culture Club began, so original, gender-bending, and full of catchy tunes. Please, Sacha Gervasi and Kevin King Templeton, don’t butcher it and somehow try to de-gay him, as Hollywood loves to do.
dhmonarch89
Maybe Troye Sivan, he’s gay, a good actor and he can sing- so no lip synching like Rami. Unlike Freddy and Elton- George was never in the closet, so I don’t see how this can be ‘de-gayed’
lykeitiz
Troye Sivan – interesting suggestion. I don’t even think it would take a lot to get him to look like Boy George.
wooly101
He was my idol when I was a teenager. oops just aged myself. I can’t wait to see it.
lykeitiz
“Taboo” was only a flop in the Rosie O’Donnell-produced U.S. version. It was a hit in England prior to that.
Boy George doesn’t get enough credit for the impact he had, and the band doesn’t get enough credit for how good the songs actually are, particularly the non-hit album cuts.
Sacha Gervasi knocked it out of the park with his last movie, “My Dinner With Herve”. Hopefully he continues that streak. There’s certainly enough material there to work with.
dhmonarch89
plus- George has one of the greatest male voices in pop music history- absolutely beautiful!
lykeitiz
@dhmonarch89 – 100% agree!
BLAKENOW
hey Queerty you are in a snit about Colton Underwood getting a reality show, and are you forgetting this scumbag who somehow was able to erase the bullshit he did to a sex worker and even one to jail for? and you are now praising him? let’s be clear people if you are gonna try to cancel people for nothing , you should try and cancel him or are we forgetting all about that?
Boy George gets 15 months for falsely imprisoning male escort. Singer accused victim of hacking into his computer before threatening him with whips and sex toy
mailliw110
Maybe they will put that in the second part…just for you!