The 88-Year-Old Director Who Refuses to Sit Down
Ridley Scott just confirmed he's shooting You Should Be Dancing, the Bee Gees biopic, this November—and Hollywood is collectively holding its breath (and bell bottoms). In an interview with Collider, Scott was cagey about studio involvement but confirmed the long-gestating project is next on his jam-packed slate. “I am [shooting something else]—the Bee Gees in November,” he said, casually, like he didn't just casually resurrect a film that's changed directors more times than the Bee Gees changed hairstyles.
Oh, and Paramount? “I think so. That's what I dare say,” Scott added, which is director-speak for: “If they cough up the check, I'm in.”
Why This Changes Everything (Or Just Adds Glitter)
Let's be clear: This movie's development hell has had more twists than Bohemian Rhapsody's editing. First Kenneth Branagh. Then John Carney. Then Lorene Scafaria. Now, Ridley “I'm expensive but I'm f*cking good” Scott.
And here's the kicker—Scott turns 88 this November. That's the same month he plans to start rolling cameras. Most directors that age are sipping Scotch in Provence. Scott? He's juggling Gladiator III, The Dog Stars, and possibly six other projects. The man directs like other people breathe.
Is this just a flex? Maybe. But let's not ignore the real gamble: You Should Be Dancing isn't just another music biopic—it's disco royalty. The Bee Gees weren't a band. They were an era.
The Long, Weird History of This Biopic
This isn't Scott's baby—it's more like a high-maintenance foster child. The project was originally hatched with Kenneth Branagh, and for a moment, the tone felt like it might be prestige-adjacent (Belfast but make it boogie). Then came indie darling John Carney (Once) and Hustlers director Lorene Scafaria—suggesting this might turn into a sleazy, glitter-soaked morality tale. Now Scott's in the chair, which likely means a hyper-polished, epic vision with the emotional subtlety of a freight train.
And casting? Still a mystery. Scott teased “footprints and handprints” on a few potential Gibb brothers, but no names. Translation: there are NDAs thicker than Barry Gibb's falsetto. No word if wigs have been tested—but you know someone's trying to resurrect those iconic white suits.
For historical comparison, remember how Rocketman pivoted hard from Bohemian Rhapsody‘s sanitized rock god portrait into surreal musical theater? This biopic has that potential too—but with Scott at the helm, expect less Broadway, more battlefield.
The Man, The Myth, The (Overbooked) Legend
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Ridley Scott might be the only director alive who could turn a Bee Gees biopic into Black Hawk Down with polyester. And somehow, it might work. His filmography is littered with wildly different genres (Alien to House of Gucci)—but also with a stubborn commitment to momentum, even when the story's a mess.
As he finishes The Dog Stars and eye-rolls the concept of “retirement,” Scott clearly sees You Should Be Dancing as more than a paycheck. It's legacy work. Or maybe just another notch on a very long cinematic belt.
Choose Your Fighter: Glitter or Grit
Is this the Saturday Night Fever spiritual sequel we didn't know we needed—or just another IP grab dressed in disco? Either way, you'll watch it. Or at least argue about it online.
