Britney Spears and Director Jon Chu Will Make Magic in New Biopic
It’s official: Jon M. Chu, the director of Wicked, In The Heights, and Step Up 2: The Streets, is working on the upcoming Britney Spears biopic. Based on her bestselling memoir The Woman In Me, Universal Pictures will produce and release the film, which may feature Selena Gomez or Natalie Portman.
While celebrating Wicked‘s Golden Globe win with nominees Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Chu walked the red carpet and shared an update on the top-secret project. “I haven’t really started anything fully yet, but she will be very involved in this. I have ideas and things, an approach, but it’s very early,” he stated. Chu will work with La La Land producer Marc Platt on the film.
Jon M. Chu gave an update on Britney’s biopic after the Golden Globes last night
— A Britney Nerd (@luckySGM) January 6, 2025
He says Britney will be very involved with the whole process. #BritneySpears #BritneyArmy #BritneyNerd pic.twitter.com/aCZw65oDkL
In November 2024, Chu, a self-proclaimed Spears fan, expressed a desire for the “Womanizer” singer to have an active role in the production. Despite the script not yet being written, Chu told Billboard, “I want to do her justice and tell her story right,” while also stating that the film will focus “a lot about how we treat people, young people, stars that we think we own, women, mothers.”
Spears launched to stardom in 1997 after releasing “…Baby One More Time” at 17 years old. She has gone on to hold the moniker “Princess of Pop” and be in numerous business ventures, including a perfume line. She won a Grammy award in 2005. As of 2021, she is legally free from her conservatorship, which lasted 13 years.
The Pop Princess has not officially commented on the biopic, but according to sources close to the situation, two actresses top her personal dream cast: Selena Gomez and Natalie Portman. One source spoke to Life & Style, expressing Spears’ excitement about working with Chu, stating, “Britney wants this movie to be absolutely top-notch.”
The source continued, “She’s got so much faith and respect for Jon and his talent she has no doubt that together they are going to create something next level.”
Selena Gomez, who starred in the French-produced film Emilia Pérez, had her initial start on Disney Channel and has transitioned into adult Hollywood stardom as well. Gomez is also a personal friend of Spears and attended her wedding to Sam Asghari in 2022.
Black Swan and Thor: Love & Thunder star Natalie Portman is also high on Spears’ list. The two have known each other since they both worked as understudies in the Off-Broadway musical, Ruthless, in 1992. The two reconnected in 2002 while hosting a New Year’s Eve party together.
Britney Spears and Natalie Portman, the friendship we didn’t know we needed pic.twitter.com/v1hOQbpJdx
— Britney Fan (@BritneyHiatus) June 18, 2020
While the film is still in its early stages, it’s safe to say that this will be one to watch. In the meantime, you can purchase your copy of The Woman In Me here.
