It’s A Sin star Callum Scott Howells is set to play lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Holly Johnson, in a new movie biopic about the band. The film, which is called Relax after the band’s 1983 hit single, will be helmed by Bernard Rose - the director behind the original Relax music video, 1992’s horror classic Candyman, and Howard Marks biopic Mr. Nice.
The upcoming project, as reported by industry website, Deadline, already has strong interest from potential buyers to distribute the movie. Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce for Working Title and Luc Roeg is producing for Independent Entertainment.
The announcement comes after the band, who are well known for number one hits Two Tribes and The Power of Love, reunited for the first time in almost 40 years on Sunday, May 7 - check out photos from the Eurovision opening ceremony in which they performed here. Their most famous song, Relax, was banned by the BBC back in 1984 as it celebrated being gay brilliantly and as a result shot to number one where it stayed for five weeks.
Read more: Who is Callum Scott Howells? The Welsh Cabaret star who shot to fame on It's a Sin
As mentioned, Callum was one of the breakout stars of Channel 4’s lauded 80s-set Aids crisis drama It’s A Sin, which was written by Russell T Davies. For his role Callum earned a best supporting actor BAFTA nomination.
The 24-year-old actor, who hails from Tonyrefail, is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. Callum returned to the city earlier this year when he starred in the Sherman Theatre’s adaptation of Romeo and Julie. The Times described his performance as: "an entertaining, unsentimental, smartly judged performance."
Speaking about the new film Tim Bevan, Co-Chairperson of Working Title, said: “Working Title is always looking to champion British stories and so the opportunity to shine a light on Frankie Goes To Hollywood, a British band who truly revolutionised the UK music industry, was a natural fit for us. Working under the direction of Bernard Rose, the project will star exciting young talent, Callum Scott Howells in the lead, and Independent Entertainment as partner. We can’t wait to get started.”
Luc Roeg of Independent Entertainment commented: “Frankie Goes To Hollywood was an unflinching ground-breaking band that paved the way for so many young performers today. Partnering with Working Title to bring their story to the screen is incredibly exciting. We can’t think of anyone better than Bernard Rose, and our talented young lead, Callum Scott Howells, to bring this iconic moment in pop history to life.
Director Bernard Rose added: “Combining the wit of the Beatles, the power of The Rolling Stones and the outrage of The Sex Pistols, Frankie Goes To Hollywood went from unemployed Liverpudlians to Kings of pop on the back of their epic banned record Relax. In 1984 they outsold Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Duran Duran. Their epic rise, bringing the then deeply underground S+M and LGBTQ club scene screaming into the limelight, is the energetic and moving story of underdogs that win one for the ages. I was very much a part of the hoopla, having directed the original ‘banned’ Relax video and I want to bring that innocent and daring world of 1984 back to life for a new audience today…” For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter here.
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