30 Rockstar Biopics We’d Like To See – And The Actors Who’d Play Them

Rumours abound that Harry Styles is to play Mick Jagger in a new Rolling Stones biopic. Interesting. but there are plenty of other musical lives we’d like to see played out on screen too. Here are the musicians we’d like to get the biopic treatment – and the actors we reckon would play them best.

1Lou Reed

Having passed away earlier this year, a movie stepping inside the gloriously twisted psyche of Lou Reed would be a fascinating watch done correctly. Our vote to play him? James Franco.

2Jason Schwartman as George Harrison

Jason Schwartman as George Harrison

Mostly because, of course, a mustachioed Jason is practically a dead-ringer for the late Beatle. But his collaborations with Wes Anderson should make him a shoo-in, too, to nail the gentle, out-there kookiness of George’s mystical charm.

3Lindsay Lohan as Courtney Love

Lindsay Lohan as Courtney Love

Like Courtney Love, Lindsay Lohan is a tempestuous blonde with a flair for self-destruction. Which makes her perfect to portray the Hole star in a warts 'n' all biopic, we reckon.

4Scarlett Johansson as Debbie Harry

Scarlett Johansson as Debbie Harry

Lost In Translation star Johansson has the raw magnetism needed to portray Harry in her heyday in a Blondie biopic. She showed off her husky vocal stylings on 2008 Tom Waits tribute album, 'Anywhere I Lay My Head', so you can add singing talent to the bargain.

5Michael Cera as Beck

Michael Cera as Beck

It's not just us who think the Arrested Development man's a dead ringer for this Californian marvel, is it? A Beck biopic would be the perfect opportunity for Cera to show off his acting muscle outside of mumblecore comedy.

6Lenny Kravitz as Bob Marley

Lenny Kravitz as Bob Marley

Kravitz has got enough acting experience under his belt (his recent credits include the first two Hunger Games movies) now to take on this meaty role, digging into the reggae pioneer's politics and personal life.

7Taylor Swift as Joni Mitchell

Taylor Swift as Joni Mitchell Folky talent? Tick. A physical resemblence? Tick. The acting chops to play Mitchell? Hmm. Forum bores would groan if Taylor Swift were to be announced as the star of a film telling the '60s star's story but we'd definitely go see it.

8Tilda Swinton as David Bowie

Tilda Swinton as David Bowie

Who knows Bowie better than Tilda Swinton? The pair have been friends and creative partners for a long time now, suggesting, in addition to making a decent ringer for Dame Dave, she'd have the inside knowledge of the legend's mannerisms and psyche to pull off a memorable portrayal.

9Winona Ryder as Bjork

Winona Ryder as Bjork

Could the Alien actress bring Bjork's icy mystique to the silver screen? We'd like to see her give it a bash.

10Bjork as Thom Yorke

Bjork as Thom Yorke

A tricky one, this: whoever brings well-known cheeky chappy Thom to the silver screen is going to have to be a ‘proper artiste’. Step forward, Bjork: an artist with an excellently esoteric back-catalogue to marvel Yorke’s, and who’s already got a star cinema turn under her belt with he role in Lars von Trier’s ‘Dancer In The Dark’.

11Rivers Cuomo as Elvis Costello

Rivers Cuomo as Elvis Costello

He wouldn’t be much cop at playing a more-weathered Elvis, of course, but as a younger Costello, the Weezer frontman would be perfect. He's already got the glasses, so the studio will save on costume costs.

12Willem Dafoe as Prince

Willem Dafoe as Prince

A left field choice, but if you're going to make a movie about a man famed for thinking outside of the box, you might as well do the same, right? Dafoe has the firecracker charisma and captivating presence to play Prince. Give him a shot, we say, Hollywood execs!

13Jennifer Aniston as Iggy Pop

Jennifer Aniston as Iggy Pop

A chance for the Friends star to break out of the rom-com cycle.

14Zachary Quinto As Ad-Rock

Zachary Quinto As Ad-Rock

The share a slight visual resemblance - the question is, could Star Trek actor Quinto handle the Beastie's flow?

15John Malkovich as Phil Collins

John Malkovich as Phil Collins

It’s not just because they’re both bald. Honest. Malkovich is a bona-fide screen chameleon, and he’d certainly be up to the task of portraying the enigma that is Phil Collins: a man responsible for some of the world’s blandest music, who ended a 10-year marriage by sending a fax.

16Aubrey Plaza as Kate Bush

Aubrey Plaza as Kate Bush

If she can perfect Kate’s dulcet London tones, ‘Parks And Recreation’ star Aubrey Plaza would be the perfect candidate to bring the wide-eyed wonder of Bush to the big screen, adding a touch of humour to proceedings.

17Noel Fielding as Rod Stewart

Noel Fielding as Rod Stewart

Just look at 'em. Noel would nail that role like notorious lothario Rod nailing a... uhh, never mind.

18Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joe Strummer

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joe Strummer

Bring a touch of punk rebellion to his natural, radiant charisma, and the Inception actor could do a bang-up job playing Strummer, we reckon.

19Charlotte Gainsbourg as Patti Smith

Charlotte Gainsbourg as Patti Smith

They're not only doppelgangers, but share a similar ageless class. Hollywood, get this movie greenlit.

20Ross Kemp as Eminem

Ross Kemp as Eminem

Just for the LOLs.

21Matthew McConaughey as Nick Cave

Matthew McConaughey as Nick Cave

Because let's face it, after starring in True Detective, McConaughey can do pretty much whatever he wants.

22Bruno Mars as Michael Jackson

Bruno Mars as Michael Jackson

The physical resemblance is there. The musical resemblance is there. Mars has had his fair share of personal demons, too. C'mon Hollywood, get this green lit.

23Harry Styles as Mick Jagger

Harry Styles as Mick Jagger

Controversial, of course. But who else really knows what it must have been like to be a snake-hipped young sex symbol of Jagger-proportions than young Harry? It goes without saying he wouldn’t be allowed to sing in the film, mind.

24Miles Kane as Paul McCartney

Miles Kane as Paul McCartney

John Lennon's had his biopic, 2011's Nowhere Boy. Where's McCartney's, eh? We'd have Miles star, for his musical ability.

25Idris Elba as Marvin Gaye

Idris Elba as Marvin Gaye

You just know this would be a decent watch.

26Damien Lewis as Josh Homme

Damien Lewis as Josh Homme

After playing a US marine-turned-terrorist-turned-spy in Homeland, it’s time for Damien to sink his teeth into a real badass role: the mighty Josh Homme.

27Johnny Depp as Jack White

Johnny Depp as Jack White

He's got the look, that's for sure. Regular acting partner Helena Bonham Carter could maybe even play Stripes drummer Meg. Unless of course she's too busy with...

28Helena Botham Carter as PJ Harvey

Helena Botham Carter as PJ Harvey

Tim Burton to direct. Obviously.

29Paul Dano as Daniel Johnston

Paul Dano as Daniel Johnston

Anyone who's seen documentary The Devil In Daniel Johnston will testify the cult songwriter's story is one that's almost stranger than fiction. A big screen fictionalisation would have to be headed up by 'There Will Be Blood' Paul Dano, who's got the edginess and indie cred to step into the 'Devil Town' singer's shoes.

30Alex Turner as Elvis Presley

Alex Turner as Elvis Presley

A rock’n’roll saviour who looks good with a quiff... Could it be anyone else?