Ghost emoji, birthday cake emoji, double exclamation points. These are hieroglyphs selected by the multi-hyphenate, mononymic icon Cher to announce a feature film based on her life. The forthcoming Universal Pictures biopic that will chronicle Cher’s personal history as well as her incredible career as a singer, actress, television personality and Twitter linguist. Okay, maybe not that last one, but we can live in hope.
Though little is known about the as-yet-untitled project, Deadline has described the production as a “major effort with heavy hitters”, and given the names on board so far. They certainly aren’t lying. Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth — who will also be one of the writers responsible for adapting Denis Villaneuve’s Timothée Chalamet-starring sci-fi epic Dune — will be writing the script for the film. Roth’s previous projects, as elucidated by Cher’s announcement tweet, include Forrest Gump, A Star Is Born, and Suspect, “TO NAME A FEW OF IS [sic] FILMS.” Damn straight.
Among the producers of the upcoming Cher film is Judy Craymer, AKA the genius whose idea it was to take ABBA’s discography and make it into the cultural touchstone we know as the Mamma Mia! stage musical, as well as Gary Goetzman, who then brought the production to the big screen in 2008. The pair triumphed again by bringing its chaotic but lovable 2018 sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again to the world, which is, of course, where they got to know Cher herself.
Craymer told Deadline: “Gary and I are thrilled to be working with Cher again and this time bringing her empowering and true life odyssey to the big screen. One cannot help but be drawn to and inspired by Cher’s larger than life talent, fortitude, unique wit, warmth and vision. Her unparalleled success in music, film and TV have inspired generations. We could not be happier to tell her story to cinema audiences.” She’s right and she should say it!
Stay tuned for the release date.