The Who drummer Keith Moon is getting a biopic and shooting starts soon

31 January 2022, 12:25 | Updated: 26 September 2023, 12:34

Pete Townshend speaks to Gold

After years in development hell, a biopic about The Who's drummer Keith Moon is finally happening.

The music of The Who was at the centre of Ken Russell's 1975 film Tommy and Franc Roddam's 1979 Quadrophenia, with both being based on the band's albums.

Despite that, the group have never had a biopic film – until now.

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A long-planned movie about their drummer Keith Moon will finally start shooting in the UK this June with Paul Whittington directing, Variety reports.

Moon joined The Who in 1964 as a replacement for Doug Sandom, quickly grabbing attention for his unique drumming style, explosive personality and destructive behaviour.

After struggles with substance abuse, he died of a drug overdose in 1978 at the age of 32.

The working title for the film is The Real Me, and sole surviving original members of The Who Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are on board as executive producers.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jeff Pope will write the film, which is produced by White Horse Pictures, which has previously worked documentaries for The Beatles and George Harrison.

Casting is said to be underway, though it's not yet known who will play Moon, Townshend, Daltrey or the band's bassist John Entwistle.