A Bon Jovi biopic has been announced: Universal is filming the band’s early years up to their breakthrough with “Livin’ On A Prayer”. What is known about production.
Universal has secured the rights to a new film about Bon Jovi. This continues the trend of music biopics: a Michael Jackson film is scheduled to be released this year, and the four-part Beatles project and cast have also been announced for 2028. You can find out what you need to know about the Bon Jovi story here.
From the beginning of the band
The film is intended to shed light on the beginnings of Bon Jovi – starting with Jon Bon Jovi’s dream of making music, then continuing with the founding of the band with David Bryan, Richie Sambora, Alec John Such and Tico Torres as well as the first recordings of the debut song “Runaway”. The plot extends to the third album “Slippery When Wet”. This record marked the band’s big breakthrough with tracks like “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “You Give Love A Bad Name”.
Who is involved in the production?
Jon Bon Jovi will back the film and has assured Universal access to the band’s entire discography. It is unclear whether he himself will have a guest appearance in the biopic. He had often tried his hand at acting in the past, for example in the cult series “Ally McBeal” and the horror sequel “John Carpenter’s Vampires: Los Muertos”.
Producer Gotham Chopra, who has already taken part in the four-part Hulu documentary “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story” about the rock band, is also considered a proven Bon Jovi expert. The documentary was released in 2024 and can be streamed on Disney Channel. It covers 40 years of the band’s history as well as the time when the singer’s vocal cord injury occurred.
The screenplay for the biopic is being written by Cody Brotter, for whom it will be his screen debut.
Will the role stay in the family?
The title and release date of the Bon Jovi film have not yet been determined, nor has the cast. In a 2025 interview, the singer named his son Jake Bongiovi as his first choice. He is an actor himself and has already starred in the romantic comedy “Sweethearts”. He is also married to actress Millie Bobby Brown. She is known for the series “Stranger Things” and the Netflix production “Enola Holmes” and can certainly give him a lot of acting tips.
