Usually churned out as "Oscar Bait" near the end of the year, the biopic can be a celebrated and detailed work of art, taking a look at a subject's life under an honest, albeit dramatic microscope. Or, if handled incorrectly, it can be a self indulgent and incoherent vanity project that stumbles and fumbles for a usually inflated running time.
The following seven films are poised to be the former or at least... we really hope they'll be.
CHECK OUT SEVEN UPCOMING REMAKES THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE GOOD
Get On Up
It's already been released overseas but the buzz is strong so we're expecting a winner. It's the story of James Brown, aka the Godfather of Soul, and features more established names such as Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis and Dan Aykroyd alongside relative unknown Chadwick Boseman in the lead. Boseman's performance has received rapturous reviews in the US with early Oscar talk surrounding the young actor.
Release date: November 19
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The Theory Of Everything
Taking a look into the life and relationship of the scientific genius Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and wife Jane (Felicity Jones), the film will be Redmayne's first real chance to be the leading man. Man on Wire's James Marsh will be handling directing duties, with playwright and novelist Anthony McCarten delivering the script. Named after the collected theories of Hawking, there's rather a lot riding on this one, given Hawking's status and the fact that, well, he's already alive, which always adds some pressure to get it right...
Release date: January 1
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Straight Outta Compton
Directed by F. Gary Gray (The Negotiator, Friday) Straight Outta Compton will explore the beginnings of West Coast rap group N.W.A. Younger incarnations of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, DJ Yella and MC Ren are all set to appear, with the role of Ice Cube being played by his son, O'Shea Jackson Jr. Look out for Paul Giamatti who recently joined the cast as the group's manager, who helped project the group to fame in the mid 80s. The fact that this may be the first ever big budget biopic focusing on a rap group and not just an individual MC is exciting enough and with their tumultuous history as a band, there's plenty of drama to be had.
Release date: 2015
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Rocketman
Tom Hardy will be stepping into the shoes and oversized frames of Elton John, when he appears as the singer in Rocketman, which starts shooting later this yeat. Written by War Horse and Billy Elliot screenwriter Lee Hall, Elton will be overseeing the project himself. For Hardy, it gives him the chance to take on another transformative role, after bulking up for Bronson and The Dark Knight Rises. Apparently, he'll be singing as well which is currently causing the actor some sleepless nights.
Release date: 2015
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Miles Ahead
Don Cheadle is so keen to make a Miles Davis biopic that he's directing, writing and starring in his take on the famed jazz musician's life. He's also partly funding the project which will span the 65 years of one of the genre's most influential men. Already shooting, Ewan McGregor and Boardwalk Empire star Michael Stuhlbarg have hopped on to co-star. Thank God, Miles Davis isn't from London. That's all we're saying.
Release date: 2015
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Mike Tyson
Okay, so this one doesn't even a name yet - but referring to it as The Untitled Mike Tyson Biopic is just a tad long winded. Currently being developed by Tyson (which actually makes a good title), Jamie Foxx will be tackling the career spanning role. But how will 43 year old Foxx play a 20 year old heavyweight champion? Simple, through the use of CGI similar to that used David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Previous biopic-er Foxx, who starred as Ray Charles in 2004's Ray is a stellar choice for the role - and a CGI'd up version of him will make an interesting pull for the film.
Release date: TBC
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Blonde
But we already have My Week With Marilyn! we hear you say. Well, unlike My Week With Marilyn, which focused on Monroe's life in well, one week, Blonde is to cover much more of the bombshell's life. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates, Jessica Chastain has been tapped to play the titular role - probably due to Chastain's uncanny resemblance to the late actress in 2011's The Help. Oh, and the fact that she's an Oscar magnet. Blonde has been subjected to a number of false starts thus far, but it's hoping to roll soon with The Assassination Of Jesse James's Andrew Dominik at the helm.
Release date: TBC
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