Ridley Scott shelves Bee Gees biopic over Paramount dispute: ‘I’m expensive, but I’m damn good’

Ridley Scott has shelved its Bee Gees biopic at Paramount Pictures for now following disagreements over the deal with the studio.

The famous director revealed in an interview with GQ magazine that the project, which was initially scheduled to begin filming in early 2025, will no longer go ahead.

Scott explained what happened, saying: “The deal – the studio changed the goal posts. I said, “You can’t do that.” They insisted. I said, “Well, I’m warning you, I’m going to walk, because I’m going to the next movie.” They didn’t believe me and I did.”

Despite this setback, Scott seemed optimistic that a resolution could be reached with Paramount, and hopes the film will be back on track around September.

Scott went on to talk about negotiations with Paramount, saying, “I was asked to go too far, and I said, ‘No. Next!’ They didn’t like my deal. So I said, I’ll move on. I’m expensive, but I’m fucking good.

Meanwhile, he focused on another project, the post-apocalyptic thriller The dog starswhose filming will begin in April for 20th Century Studios.

This was confirmed by Scott Free, the director’s production company The dog stars will now become Scott’s next project, while the Bee Gees biopic remains on the horizon.

A Paramount source said the biopic is still in development for a potential fall pickup.

Speaking about the Bee Gees film, Scott said: “It’s all about the competition with the brothers, and then they lose Andy – Andy overdosed in his 30s. … It’s more about gift than luck, right? It’s a fantastic story.”

This isn’t Scott’s first encounter with the Bee Gees. Early in his career, their manager, Robert Stigwood, asked him to make a film to reconcile the group, who were at odds at the time. Scott proposed a medieval-themed film and even met the brothers, although the film was never made.

If the biopic were to proceed, it would mark another collaboration between Scott and Paramount following the success of Gladiator IIwhich grossed $455 million worldwide.

With regard to The dog stars, Giacobbe Elordi will take on the role of protagonist, replacing him Paolo Mescal. Elordi, known for Priscilla AND Euphoriahe’ll play a pilot navigating a post-apocalyptic world alongside a fractious gunman as they evade scavengers known as Reapers.