We all remember where we were when Britney Spears announced the release of her memoir, The Woman in Me. After spending years held within the tight constraints of what has now become a highly publicised and heavily scrutinised conservatorship, Spears was finally getting the chance to tell her story. And boy, did people listen – with the memoir going on to sell over 2.5 million copies in the United States alone. Now, with the star's consent and full support, the stories and details shared within The Woman in Me, will receive a new platform, with a biopic officially in the works.
On board to direct the film is Wicked's Jon M. Chu, who has shared details of the project in development.
“I’m a big fan of Britney. I’ve been a fan since I was young and she was young and she was one of 12 acts at the Shrine Auditorium," he told Billboard. “So I want to do her justice and tell her story right. But we’ll see. We’re developing it now and it’s a long road ahead."
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the director shared that Spears would play a key role in the film. “She’s going to be very involved. I haven’t really started anything fully yet, but she will be very involved in this. I have ideas and things, an approach, but it’s very early.”
Following a highly competitive auction, Universal Pictures has officially won the rights to bring the star's memoir to the big screen. The Grammy Winner confirmed the news herself, taking to X to share that she was "excited to share with my fans that I've been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt."
Excited to share with my fans that I've been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He’s always made my favorite movies … stay tuned 🌹🎥
— Britney Spears 🌹🚀 (@britneyspears) August 1, 2024
If the name Marc Platt sounds familiar, it's because the producer has had his fair share of hits as far as films are concerned – the man worked on the Legally Blonde series, amongst others, to be exact. He — alongside Chu — is also one of the masterminds behind the adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, Wicked. We can't wait to see what this duo creates with The Woman in Me.
But perhaps the most pressing question at the front of everyone's minds is who stacks up to play the role of our undying pop princess? Thankfully – as we know – pop is having a major comeback, so there's no shortage of talent who we think could take on the role. Below, we're sharing our top pick of stars who we think could play Britney Spears in the new biopic.
Who should play Britney Spears in the upcoming biopic?
Addison Rae
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It's no secret that Addison Rae is a frontrunner in the race to portray Britney Spears. Some even believe that the dancer-turned-singer is making a conscious effort to emulate Spears, from her music and outfits, to the way she speaks in interviews. Take the title of her most recent single, Diet Pepsi, for example. Not only does the song itself recall Spears' early 2000s vocals, but the name seems to hark back to a now-iconic interview Spears gave, where she couldn't stop talking about how much she loves Pepsi. Sound familiar? Like Spears, Rae is also a trained dancer, meaning she'd be a worthy candidate to bring some of the singer's high-impact performances to life.
Sabrina Carpenter
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This suggestion should come as a no brainer. Sabrina Carpenter is one of the most talked about musical stars of the moment – hypnotising fans and audiences across the globe with hits like Espresso and Please Please Please. If you ask us, it sounds very familiar to Spears' own trajectory in the early years of fame. She is also no stranger to acting, growing up on screen in her role on Disney's Girl Meets World.
Sydney Sweeney
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Sure, we are the first to admit that perhaps Sydney Sweeney's musical talents aren't as developed as the other stars on this list (though she did almost audition for Oaklahoma, so perhaps she has what it takes). But the similarities between the two stars are too similar to ignore. Especially after witnessing her portray the complexity of her character in Euphoria, we feel Sweeney has what it takes to carry the storyline of The Woman in Me.
Tate McRae
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If you spend as much time on the internet as we do, you'll know well that Tate McRae has been hailed as the Britney Spears of this generation. The singer, songwriter and dancer is no stranger to the industry – beginning her career at a similar age to Spears on the hit show So You Think You Can Dance and later, the 2014 rendition of Annie. In the last couple of years, McRae has exploded, cementing herself as one of the few performers who is a triple threat in a similar way to Spears. McRae has even been interviewed by Spears herself in May 2024 for V Magazine. And let's not forget McRae's lineup of incredible outfits on and off stage – early 2000s Britney, anyone? It really could be a perfect match.
Millie Bobby Brown
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Here at RUSSH, we believe in manifestation. So when Millie Bobby Brown shared on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2022 that portraying Spears would be a dream come true for her, we had to put the star on the list.
"I want to play a real person and I think for me, Britney ... [It] would be Britney Spears. I think her story, first of all, resonates with me," the Stranger Things star shared.
"Just growing up in the public eye watching her videos, watching interviews of how when she was younger. I mean, same thing with you," the actress continued at the time. "I see the scramble for words [in her interviews] and I don't know her, but when I look at pictures of her, I feel like I could tell her story in the right way and hers only."
Plus, you'd be lying if the photo of Bobby Brown above wasn't giving Crossroads.
Elle Fanning
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To round out the list, we've chosen Elle Fanning – a star who undoubtedly would be able to portray the duality and challenges explored in Spears' memoir. Similarly to Sweeney, she might not have the most comprehensive musical catalogue behind her, though she definitely nailed her singing role in the 2018 film, Teen Spirit.
Also, how could we ignore her perfectly replicated Halloween costume from 2022, where Fanning dressed up as Spears in the I'm A Slave 4 U video clip.
