David Bowie: Stardust producers respond to singer’s son’s comments on ‘biopic’

Duncan Jones had said the filmmakers had not secured rights to use his father’s music

‘The film was written as an ‘origins story’ about the beginning of David’s journey as he invented his Ziggy Stardust character,’ say producers (Rex)

The producers of the upcoming David Bowie “biopic” have responded to Duncan Jones’s public criticism of their plans to make a film about his late father.

News recently circulated that musician-turned-actor Johnny Flynn would play the iconic singer in Stardust, a film that will focus on Bowie’s first tour of the US in 1971.

Jones criticised the announcement, saying that the producers did not have rights to use Bowie’s music or the blessing of the family.

Salon Pictures, who are behind the film, responded with a statement, clarifying that they do not have the rights to Bowie’s music and the the film is not a biopic, but a “turning point in David’s life”.

“We would like to clarify that this film is not a biopic,” the statement reads, “it is a moment in time film at a turning point in David’s life, and is not reliant on Bowie’s music.

“Much like Nowhere Boy for Lennon, Control for Joy Division, the production uses period music and songs that Bowie covered, but not his original tracks.

“The film was written as an ‘origins story’ about the beginning of David’s journey as he invented his Ziggy Stardust character, and focuses on the character study of the artist, as opposed to a hits driven ‘music’ biopic.”

Stardust will star Jena Malone (Neon Demon, The Huger Games) as Bowie’s then-wife Angie, while Marc Maron (Glow) has joined the cast as the singer’s record company publicist.

British filmmaker Gabriel Range (I Am Slave, Death of a President) will direct the project, with a script from Christopher Bell (The Last Czars). Filming begins in June.