Universal is developing a feature film about Bon Jovi, bringing the band’s rise from New Jersey bars to global rock fame to theaters.
The story of one of rock’s most recognizable bands is heading to Hollywood.
Universal Pictures has won a competitive bidding war to develop a feature film centered on the legendary rock group Bon Jovi.
Known for arena anthems like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “It’s My Life,” the band’s decades-long journey from local clubs to global superstardom will now be adapted for the big screen.
Screenwriter Cody Brotter, who wrote the upcoming thriller #Killing Satoshi#, has been tapped to write the script. The project is still in early development, meaning key pieces — including the director and the actors who will portray the band — have yet to be announced.
That leaves open one major question: which chapter of Bon Jovi’s story will the film focus on?
Formed in 1983 and fronted by singer Jon Bon Jovi, the group has spent more than four decades shaping mainstream rock. Over the years, the lineup has included keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarists John Shanks and Phil X, percussionist Everett Bradley, and bassist Hugh McDonald.
The band’s influence has been recognized with inductions into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Producers Kevin J. Walsh and Gotham Chopra of Religion of Sports are attached to the project. At Universal, production development director Jacqueline Garell will oversee the film.
It’s still unclear whether the movie will zero in on a defining moment — similar to Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere — or take a broader look at the band’s rise and cultural impact, as seen in Rocketman.
The project arrives at a time when music biopics continue to attract audiences and awards attention. Films such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis and Bob Marley: One Love have proven that stories about iconic musicians can translate into major box-office hits.
Still, success isn’t guaranteed. Recent efforts like Back to Black struggled to connect with audiences.
For Universal, the Bon Jovi project represents another bet that the right mix of music, nostalgia and storytelling can bring a legendary sound — and story — back to life on screen.
