David Bowie Biopic Faces Wrath Of Fans For Not Including His Music In Trailer
By Izza Sofia, 30 Oct 2020
Image via IFC Films
The first trailer for the upcoming David Bowie biopic Stardust has dropped online, giving fans a first proper look at Johnny Flynn as the star himself.
Flynn is set to play Bowie during the era of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. However, the trailer has garnered mixed reactions from fans online as many pointed out the absence of Bowie’s music in the film. According to NME, the filmmakers failed to secure any rights to Bowie’s songs.
“A David Bowie film with no David Bowie songs cause even his family wouldn’t sign off using his music on this god awful film,” an unhappy fan tweeted.
Other users were unsure with Flynn playing Bowie, with one Twitter user comparing his appearance to Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luther. “They have to say the name ‘David Bowie’ multiple times in this unauthorized biopic trailer, because otherwise you’d mistake Johnny Flynn for Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor,” @Hello_Tailor said.
Many users also pointed out that the idea of the biopic is disrespectful as the late Bowie has expressed desire not to have his life made into a film. Stardust is made without any approval from Bowie’s family or estate.
Nope. Just no. You can’t have an accent that bad, a film that looks like an American soap opera and you certainly can’t have a Bowie film without his music. Probs shouldn’t have bothered guys.
— SamShins (@cheesygrin85) October 29, 2020
👩🏻🎤👩🏻🎤#Bowie #fail #Stardust https://t.co/EW0E6c4hqg
they literally went “who is the actor who looks the least like david bowie?” and cast him for the role https://t.co/De6LRsrBNv
— uma (@umawrnkl) October 29, 2020
Bowie was pure genius. To make a movie about him without his music, without his family consent and knowing himself never ever wanted a biopic movie is disrespectful. Watch Bowie’s movies instead. Hunger. Cat People. Labyrinth. Watch him as another genius Tesla.
— Vlada Mars (@VladaMars) October 28, 2020
maybe we don’t love cinema after all https://t.co/XRiYB5iwdT
— WeLoveCinema (@WeLoveCinemaLDN) October 28, 2020
one pandemic at a time please https://t.co/WFqVMbrhSY
— a daisy chain 4 satan (@TEENAGERl0T) October 29, 2020
they have to say the name "david bowie" multiple times in this unauthorized biopic trailer, because otherwise you'd mistake johnny flynn for jesse eisenberg's Lex Luthor. pic.twitter.com/KbUWruQ8AF
— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) October 28, 2020
i love Johnny Flynn with my whole heart but why would he agree to star in a biopic neither Bowie or his family wanted to be made ? This should have never made made and we shouldn't watch it. https://t.co/NQc4LTn9Pb
— Sofie (@timofiechalamet) October 28, 2020
wow this looks awful. did they not get the rights to his music? I don't know why you wouldn't have david bowie's music in a trailer for a movie about him, seems to fundamentally misunderstand what people find interesting about musicians https://t.co/UhKWBMAsNE
— Jack Hamilton (@jack_hamilton) October 28, 2020
A David Bowie film with no David Bowie songs cause even his family wouldn’t sign off using his music on this god awful film https://t.co/BKibXdRTml
— Michelle Williamson (@Michellewills12) October 29, 2020
I cannot wait for the shitshow that occurs when general audiences see this film and then slowly realise the david bowie biopic contains no david bowie songs https://t.co/czwL3HO9uj
— Jack Saint (@LackingSaint) October 28, 2020
[via NME, cover image via IFC Films]