Paramount Pictures and Warner Music Group Ink Multi-Year First-Look Deal for Music Biopics

Paramount Pictures and Warner Music Group (WMG) have signed a multi-year, first-look agreement to develop theatrical films based on WMG’s catalogue of artists and songwriters. The partnership, announced in 2026, lists no projects currently in development. WMG’s roster includes legacy acts such as David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Frank Sinatra, and contemporary performers like Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, and Cardi B. Production partner Unigram, led by Amanda Ghost and Gregor Cameron, will collaborate with Paramount and the artists or their estates on each film.

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Music biopics have become a prominent genre following the commercial success of 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Subsequent titles—including “Elvis,” “Back to Black,” “One Love,” and “Deliver Me From Nowhere”—demonstrate Hollywood’s sustained interest in dramatizing musicians’ lives. Box-office performance varies; Lionsgate’s “Michael” earned $200 million domestically and $450 million worldwide after two weekends, illustrating the high-earning potential of the format.

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• Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg – Co-chairs of Paramount Pictures, who highlighted the creative ambition of the deal.

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• Robert Kyncl – CEO of Warner Music Group, overseeing the expansion into scripted features.

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• Amanda Ghost – Founder of Unigram, serving as liaison between WMG’s artists and the film development process.

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• Gregor Cameron – Co-leader of Unigram, working alongside Ghost on project development.

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The agreement gives Paramount access to WMG’s extensive music catalog, creating new revenue streams in domestic and international markets. The $200 million domestic and $450 million global earnings of “Michael” underscore the lucrative possibilities, while earlier biopics with mixed returns highlight the need for careful subject selection and storytelling.

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Paramount’s co-chairs expressed enthusiasm for translating “generation-defining music” into cinema, while WMG’s leadership emphasized artists’ opportunity to control their narratives and reach broader audiences. Unigram framed the collaboration as a means to place music at the core of scripted storytelling.

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Critics note that not every music biopic achieves commercial success. Madonna’s long-standing effort to produce a self-directed biopic was ultimately abandoned by Universal, highlighting challenges in aligning artistic vision with studio expectations. The absence of announced projects at the deal’s launch fuels further questions about development timelines and market viability.

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• “We’re excited to partner with WMG and their extraordinary artists to create powerful theatrical experiences inspired by generation-defining music and talent,” — Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg, Co-chairs, Paramount Pictures

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• “This unprecedented collaboration provides Warner Music artist and songwriters with the incredible opportunity to bring their stories, sounds, and repertoire to scripted features and animated films,” — Amanda Ghost, Founder, Unigram

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• “This collaboration with Paramount unites two forward-looking and innovative companies,” — Robert Kyncl, CEO, Warner Music Group

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• “Every artist deserves to tell the stories behind their life and music in their own creative way, and we’re excited to partner with our incredible talent and world-class filmmakers to bring these stories to the big screen, growing their audiences around the world.” — Robert Kyncl, CEO, Warner Music Group

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While no titles are slated for production yet, the agreement establishes a framework for future music-driven films. Both companies intend to collaborate with artists, estates, and Unigram to identify suitable subjects, develop scripts, and attach filmmakers, aiming to deliver new theatrical experiences that blend music and narrative storytelling.

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