Roy Orbison’s family have launched plans for a biopic and a documentary about the late legendary singer and songwriter. In an exclusive report, Variety revealed that Orbison’s three sons—Alex, Roy Jr., and Wesley—have partnered with Compelling Pictures, an independent production company, to develop the projects.
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The Orbison brothers will serve as co-producers of the films through their Roy’s Boys production company. The biographical film is tentatively titled You Got It, named after Roy Orbison’s 1988 comeback hit. According to an official announcement, the movie is described as “a romance more than a traditional biopic.” It will focus on Roy’s relationship with his second wife, Barbara.
[RELATED: The Story Behind Roy Orbison’s Repeat Hit “Oh, Pretty Woman”]
Orbison married the German-born Barbara Jakobs in 1969 after the tragic deaths of his first wife, Claudette, in a 1966 motorcycle accident and his two oldest sons in a 1968 house fire. Barbara eventually became Roy’s manager and played a major role in his late-career comeback before his death from a heart attack at age 52 in 1988. Barbara died of cancer in 2011 at age 61.
The biopic will be co-produced by Denis O’Sullivan and Jeff Kalligheri for Compelling Pictures. O’Sullivan previous production credits include the respective Queen and Whitney Houston biopics Bohemian Rhapsody and I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Kalligheri also co-produced the latter film.
Statements from Orbisons’ Sons and Compelling Pictures
Roy’s sons issued a joint statement about the film that reads, “The Orbisons are elated to find the perfect partners in Compelling Pictures for the Roy Orbison biopic. Denis and Jeff’s vision for this journey through Roy’s life is incredible.”
Compelling Pictures also released a collective statement about the movie.
“Roy Orbison is a singular talent who holds a special place in our hearts, both as a favorite singer for ourselves and our loved ones, and also as a symbol of the incredible strength and resilience of the human spirit,” the message reads. “It’s been an honor getting to know Wesley, Roy Jr., and Alex and their families, and we believe this unique love story between Roy and Barbara—rife with humor, tension, and emotion, all accentuated by these incredible songs—will reach the rafters like one of Roy’s impossible notes.”
More About Roy Orbison
Orbison was in early rock ‘n’ roll pioneer with an almost operatic voice who inspired and influenced many other artists. During his initial run of success, he scored a series of memorable hits from 1960 through 1964. They included “Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel),” “Crying,” “Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream),” “In Dreams,” “It’s Over,” and the chart-toppers “Running Scared” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
Orbison’s career hit a long lean period after the deaths of his first wife and two sons. While Roy’s popularity had waned by the early 1980s, Don McLean and Van Halen found success at that time with respective hit covers of “Crying” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
Orbison’s fortunes began to turn after “In Dreams” was featured prominently in David Lynch’s acclaimed 1986 cult film Blue Velvet. In 1987, Orbison was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Bruce Springsteen. During Springsteen’s speech, the Boss admitted that “Born to Run” was partly inspired by Roy.
In 1988, Orbison joined the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, along with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. Around that time, he also began working on a comeback album with a variety of guest artists.
Two months after the Traveling Wilburys’ debut album, Vol. 1, Orbison died of a heart attack. His comeback album, Mystery Girl, was released posthumously in January 1989. Lead single “You Got It” became Roy’s first Top-40 hit since 1966, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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