A Britney Spears biopic is incoming, and needless to say, what little is known so far has whipped fans into a frenzy. Jon M. Chu (Wicked, Crazy Rich Asians) is set to direct the film for Universal Pictures, which won the rights to Spears's poignant 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me. The story will likely follow Spears's rise to superstardom, as well as her battles with mental health issues and a 13-year court-ordered conservators hip, which ended in 2021.
Though no official release date has been set for the project, Chu has said that Spears will play a pivotal role in bringing it to life. "She's going to be very involved," Chu told Entertainment Tonight of the film, which is still in development.
Well, we are hyped—so hyped, in fact, that while we await casting news, Vogue has decided to dream-cast the biopic ourselves. Read them below.
Britney herself—duh
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Okay, this is a tall order, we know. The Princess of Pop has made it quite clear that she's done with the entertainment business, especially after being forced to perform for years under her conservatorship. But one can still dream that she would star in Chu's film herself. After all, her inimitable stage presence is going to be hard (if not impossible) to replicate. Why not go directly to the source?
Addison Rae
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Yes, yes, Addison Rae is known primarily for being a TikTok star. But in her burgeoning pop career, Rae has shown that not only can she dance, but also churn out genuine hits (cue: "Aquamarine") and serve a look—all mandatory Britney characteristics. Plus, Rae has that America's sweetheart–turned–It girl vibe to her (like Britney, she's a southern girl), and with more than 88 million followers on TikTok alone, she could introduce Britney's incredible legacy to a whole new audience.
Madelyn Cline
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With her starring roles in Outer Banks and Knives Out, Cline has already proven she has the acting chops for the role. Well-practiced dance routines and dubbing can transform anyone into the pop superstar—but capturing the complex emotions the role requires is a whole other story, and Cline would be well-suited for the task.
Sabrina Carpenter
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Paging Sabrina Carpenter! It would be a classic Hollywood move to cast one of modern pop's biggest stars in a project like this. Plus, Carpenter has a history of acting on the Disney Channel (and on Broadway!) before making it big as a pop girl, matching Britney's rise to fame following her stint on The Mickey Mouse Club. And just think of the Sabrina-fied versions of classic Britney songs we could get. Instantly yes.
Margot Robbie
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As a three-time Oscar nominee, Margot Robbie certainly has no trouble leading a huge film—and her big, expressive eyes and blonde hair are an added bonus. In Greta Gerwig's Barbie, she even played a picture-perfect icon who slowly begins to unravel. And remember her amazing Brooklyn accent in The Wolf of Wall Street? We just know she would nail Spears's southern twang.
Tate McRae
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Pop star of the moment Tate McRae is constantly being touted as "the next Britney," thanks to her dance-intensive performances and sexy lyrics (cue: "Sports Car"). And while McRae is an artist in her own right, the comparisons are hard to dismiss. We just know she would slay a rendition of "Slave 4 U."
A new discovery
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Let's be real—the smartest choice that Universal and Chu could make would be to cast a new or unknown actor in the role, and create a star themselves. At the moment, there's a very Britney-like dancer on TikTok who could be a contender…hit her up, Chu!
Sydney Sweeney
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Beyond being another famous blonde, Sydney Sweeney, too, has that girl-next-door quality. Plus, do you remember her performance as Cassie on Euphoria? If there is anyone equipped to take on a dramatic rise-and-fall arc, it's Sweeney.
Olivia Holt
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Already a favorite among serious Britney fans (known as the B Army), the 27-year-old is one of the younger stars in the running. But with roles in Heart Eyes and Cruel Summer, Holt definitely has the range (and the look!) to pull the part off.
Bonus casting
Of course, Britney isn't the only role to cast in the forthcoming biopic. There are also key members from her family to reimagine—including her sister Jamie Lynn Spears, mother Lynne Spears, and father Jamie Spears—not to mention fellow pop culture icons such as Justin Timberlake, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera. Below, we dream-cast those, too.
Drew Starkey as Justin Timberlake
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
A rising Hollywood heartthrob is basically mandatory for the role of Justin Timberlake, who—during his time dating Spears in the 2000s—was a pop heartthrob himself. American actor Drew Starkey has both the young, blonde pop star look down, and the emotional depth to portray the slightly villainous and manipulative sides of his character (at least, according to the book).
Millie Bobby Brown as Jamie Lynn Spears
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Photo: Getty Images
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has been floated as a possible lead for the film—and that could work! But an appearance from her as Jamie Lynn Spears would be a true moment for the film. Without spoiling the entirety of The Woman in Me, things get—well—tense between Britney and Jamie Lynn. It could be a really interesting role for Brown to sink her teeth into.
Sandra Bullock as Lynne Spears
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
A number of online fan forums have pitched Bullock for the part of Britney's mom, and it's pretty genius. The Oscar-winning actor would bring something unique and hard-hitting to the role; plus, she did a killer southern accent in The Blind Side.
Alec Baldwin as Jamie Spears
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Undoubtedly the villain of the film, the role of father Jamie Spears—who orchestrated Britney's abusive conservatorship— is probably the most demanding and challenging to cast. But there is something about Alec Baldwin's intensity onscreen that seems right for it. (It's not for nothing that he's also played bad guys in Malice and The Hunt for Red October.)
Timothée Chalamet as Kevin Federline
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Photo: Getty Images
The role of Kevin Federline (otherwise known as K-Fed) needs to be played by someone who isn't afraid to play a, well, pretty polarizing character. Timothée Chalamet, one of the finest young actors of our time, could bring something interesting to the sleazy backup dancer who won Britney's heart. Even if he is only in one or two scenes, we could see Chalamet totally eating it up.
Julia Garner as Madonna
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
A mentor to Britney throughout her career, Madonna obviously needs to make a cameo in the film—and who better to play the part than Julia Garner, who was set to portray Madonna in her (now-scrapped) biopic? She is almost a dead-ringer for the pop icon. Perfect casting.
Alexa Demie as Christina Aguilera
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Lastly, would it even be a Britney movie without a Christina Aguilera appearance? As some of the biggest pop girls of the 2000s, the two singers were often pitted against each other—something Britney writes about in her memoir—though they also iconically performed "Like a Virgin" together, with Madonna (see above!), at the 2003 VMAs. So, who would we want to see as Christina? Alexa Demie, who has the requisite sass and attitude to pull of the X-Tina "Dirrty" era.
