Biopics Are The New Black

In the land of predictable crash and burn, musical biopics are momentarily at the top of the heap.

After the success of Walk the Line and Ray, Hollywood is lusting over legends to remake onscreen - and actors to play them. Word is it'll lead to a better chance at the Oscars.

The following biopics are currently rumbling through production and casting offices.

Johnny Depp is in early talks to play late Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, in a biopic being produced by Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions.

"I Slept With Joey Ramone", an authorized biography of the late Joey Ramone, written by his brother, was optioned by Rory Rosegarten, the producer of "Everybody Loves Raymond." The option gives Rosegarten complete access to the singer's estate and the punk rock band's catalog.

Mike Myers is slated to star as Who drummer Keith Moon in a biopic being produced by Moon's bandmate Roger Daltrey.

The story of Janis Joplin is coming in 2008, directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Zooey Deschanel. The film was originally slated to star Pink and come out in 2005.

Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked) will star as Dusty Springfield in a biopic by Universal Pictures, scripted by Jessica Sharzer, a director who has worked on "The L Word." Springfield's career spanned four decades and peaked with "Son of a Preacher Man" in 1969.

The Weinstein Company has acquired the rights to the Bob Dylan biopic, "I'm Not There", by Todd Haynes. In the film, six different actors portray Dylan, including Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett.

We'll be there in line with you. Let the truth be told.

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