Over the past few years, the Lifetime Network has been in the process of rebanding itself, debuting controversial “unauthorized” movies that went behind-the-scenes of hit sitcoms like Saved By the Bell and Full House. Their rebranding has also included the Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig thriller A Deadly Adoption and the cult-classic remake of Mother, May I Sleep With Danger? from James Franco. Today we have word that the network has ordered a biopic centering on pop icon Britney Spears, simply entitled Britney.
TV Line reports that the network has cast Natasha Bassett as the Princess of Pop, although no other cast members have come aboard quite yet. The biopic will be produced by Asylum Entertainment for Lifetime, with production scheduled to begin in Vancouver on September 19, with Lifetime eyeing a 2017 debut. Here’s the official plot description, courtesy of the network.
“Britney Jean Spears was just a young girl from Louisiana trying to make a name for herself in the music scene when her talent became undeniable to all those around her. While handlers soon began planning her every move, Britney found solace with fellow pop singer Justin Timberlake. Tragically, as Britney‘s star continued to shine, her private life crumbled after the divorce of her parents and her tabloid breakup with Justin. Her personal behavior soon eclipsed her pop icon success as a quickie marriage to childhood friend and later, an ill-fated marriage to dancer Kevin Federline, became the talk of the world. With her life spiraling out of control, Britney hit rock bottom, lost custody of her sons and was placed under her father’s conservatorship. But despite her past troubles, Britney has battled back to rebuild her career to its former glory, proving to everyone that she’s a timeless force in entertainment.”
The TV movie will be directed by Leslie Libman, who has directed episodes of NCIS, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and many more, is directing from a script by Anne-Marie Hess, who wrote and directed the upcoming movie Good After Bad starring Billy Burke. Before her writing and directing career took off, Anne-Marie Hess worked as an editor on shows such as Kitchen Nightmare and Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.
Natasha Bassett most recently starred in the Coen Brothers’ Hail, Caesar as Gloria DeLamour. She will next be seen in House By the Lake and Desolate alongside Callan Mulvey, but no release dates have been given for those films quite yet. Stay tuned for more updates on this Britney biopic as soon as more information comes in.