BRITNEY SPEARS has had one of the most sensational, rollercoaster careers in showbiz history and you’ll soon be able to watch it on the big screen.
Universal Pictures has beaten off bids from stars like Barbie’s Margot Robbie and Bridgerton producer Shonda Rimes to win the rights to her autobiography The Woman In Me.
That will be another blow for her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, who is accused of persuading Britney to have an abortion in the hit book which came out last year.
Jon M. Chu, who has directed the new Wicked movies with Ariana Grande, will helm the project and it will be produced by La La Land’s Marc Platt.
Confirming the news last night, Britney tweeted: “Excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with Marc Platt.
“He’s always made my favourite movies… stay tuned.”
As well as her story, Universal will have the rights to her entire back catalogue for the picture after an eight-figure deal was struck, so her huge pop hits will soundtrack it.
However now talk will turn to who could possibly play Britney, who has sold over 150million records worldwide, but become equally talked about for her turbulent personal life.
Some fans have already suggested that young starlet Sabrina Carpenter could play Britney, but I’d prefer to see a lesser known newcomer tackle the role.
A movie insider said: “Britney has had an unbelievable career and it will be a major challenge to fit everything into one feature film.
“But she has been told in no uncertain terms that things won’t be sugar-coated and it will very much show all of her lows, as well as her career-defining highs.
“That is going to be hard for her to watch but she is being involved in all aspects of the film and was part of the team deciding who would get to move forward in bringing her story to the big screen.”
The Woman In Me has already sold more than 2.5million copies in the US alone and became a No1 best-seller.
And I’m no doubt this dramatic movie will be a box office hit, too.
THE GIRLS ARE BLACK IN TOWN
GIRLS ALOUD will perform the final date of their comeback tomorrow – but they’ll be feeling the heat if they do it in these outfits.
Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh posed in all black for this photo ahead of their headline slot at Brighton Pride.
7
Since finishing their reunion tour in the UK last month, Nicola has been gallivanting across France, with stops in St Tropez and Cannes.
But I’m told they have spent this week locked in rehearsals for their gig, which is expected to feature at least one hit that fans didn’t get to hear at their other shows.
And they have pushed the boat out by getting a whole new range of merchandise for the one-off show.
The future is uncertain for the girls, but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for a performance at Glastonbury next summer.
Pop is very much welcome there these days and I’ve no doubt they would pull in a massive crowd.
JUST A DREAM, WES?
IT’S only been four years since he signed a massive record deal with EMI, but Wes Nelson has been a busy man.
The former Love Islander told me he’s already got enough material for ten albums and is still working hard in the studio.
7
But while he’s got no problems laying down new tracks, he admitted that he’s still waiting for a call from his dream collaborator – Justin Bieber.
“After Jingle Bell Ball, we exchanged numbers,” Wes told me during an exclusive chat.
“But I’m not going to lie, we haven’t really spoken too much.
“But that’s okay. It’ll come, maybe one day, you know. You never know.”
Wes’ new single Barcelona ft Billen Ted is out today and he cannot wait for his fans to hear it.
He said: “Every time I show people, they’re like, ‘I can’t wait to go mad in the clubs to this’.
“It’s looking good. Some of the shows we do, people are going absolutely feral.
“Like, the reaction to it’s been really fun. I just want people to let their hair down with this one.”
After finding fame on Love Island back in 2018, Wes has been asked by ITV to return to the show for the All Stars series.
Although he did head back to the villa to perform on the winter edition with Craig David at the start of this year, Wes told me that he’s purely focusing on his music now.
“It’s part of my history,” he explained.
“I’m happy to be known as an artist and not just an Islander.
“To perform with Craig David, he was my idol growing up. I love his music. One day that collaboration could land.”
Watch this space.
HERE’S LUCY..I MEAN LILY
LILY ALLEN has done plenty of embarrassing things over the years, but she says an A-list Hollywood event last week was her most humiliating moment.
The singer was attending a Walk Of Fame ceremony for Marvel president Kevin Feige with her actor husband David Harbour when she was introduced in a speech as “singer Lucy Allen”.
7
Retelling the story, Lily explained: “Kathryn Hahn, who was sitting behind me, lent forward and went, ‘Did he just call you Lucy Allen?’.
“I was like, ‘Yep, that just happened’.”
Speaking on her podcast Miss Me?, she added: “I was like, why am I being punished? I was like, I just want to die right now.”
The problems of the rich and famous, eh?
HER PANTS ARE RI-RI COMFY!
EVER since she launched her Savage X Fenty undies range in 2018, Rihanna has had me hooked on her collection.
And by the look of the singer’s latest offerings, my bank balance won’t make for pleasant reading after pay day.
7
Ri-Ri shared new pictures of her “soft and savage” collection on Instagram yesterday, and she looked fierce in a brown bra and pants alongside a tan denim jacket, above.
Sadly, no matter what I buy, I’ll never end up looking like Rihanna.
CARDI B DIVORCE: ROUND 2
CARDI B is ending things for good with rapper Offset by filing for divorce – again.
The Wap singer, who wed the Migos star in secret in 2017, filed papers in the US on Wednesday and is said to be seeking primary custody of their two children.
7
Just this week they were hit by rumours he had cheated on her and it’s certainly not the first time in their relationship that those claims have been made.
But the couple are believed to have grown apart in recent years and Cardi said she was single last year.
She previously filed for divorce in 2020 before withdrawing the request, but sources in the States insist this time it’s for good.
I can’t imagine either of them are easy to live with, but Cardi is an incredible talent and I’m sure she will have no shortage of men after her.
Bizbit
SHE is one of the funniest women in comedy and now the brilliant Katherine Ryan is heading back to Canada to be a judge on their BGT spin-off.
She will be sitting alongside Shania Twain on the panel but admitted she was a bit nervous about meeting the singer after sending a message. . . which has gone unread.
On the White Wine Question Time podcast, Katherine said: “I sent her a DM and she didn’t reply.
“A lot of these people don’t manage their own social media so I don’t know if she wants to be my friend.”
Kath, just to reassure you – Shania is one of the nicest women in the business.
SHAWN’S SHOW
SHAWN MENDES will play a one-off show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London on August 13.
He made the announcement yesterday following the news of his comeback album, which is simply called Shawn.
7
Fans will be able to hear the Canadian star performing tracks from his new record live for the first time, ahead of its release on October 18.
Tickets go on sale on Tuesday from 2pm.