McG is directing the new rock biopic about the iconic group, which will chart their early days. The search is on for someone to play Gene Simmons.
(Left) Nick Jonas in ‘The Good Half’. Photo: Utopia. (Right) Paul Stanley of Kiss in ‘Kiss Rocks Vegas’. Photo: Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Preview:Nick Jonas is boarding KISS biopic ‘Shout It Out Loud.’McG is in the director’s chair.Darren Lemke wrote the most recent draft of the script.Last September, we brought the news that ‘Shout It Out Loud,’ the long-gestating music biopic of iconic rockers KISS had taken a big step forward, as ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and ‘Uglies’ director McG was making a deal to direct it.
Since then, he’s officially signed on and developed the movie further, and now Deadline brings word that singer/actor Nick Jonas will play a key role in the film, that of KISS lead singer Paul Stanley.
Not Yet Rated
A biopic about Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and their superstar rock band KISS. Read the Plot
With the movie really starting to come together, the aim is now to kick off shooting either late this year or early in 2026, with Jonas given the time to train to perform Stanley’s trademark power vocals.
A key further element for the movie is tracking down a star who can appear as legendary bass player Gene Simmons.
Related Article: McG Making a Deal to Direct Biopic ‘Shout It Out Loud’, About Glam Rockers KISSWho are KISS?
Kiss with the cast of ‘Detroit Rock City’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Should you not already be aware of the glam-rockers, here’s a little history lesson…
KISS was formed in New York City by Stanley, Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in 1973. Known for their signature kabuki-style face paint and larger-than-life, pyrotechnic-filled performances, the band broke out with the 1975 live album “Alive!” which featured the anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite” and solidified their status as one of the era’s top acts.
The band’s most successful albums include “Destroyer,” “Love Gun,” “Alive II” and “Dynasty,” which produced hits including “Beth,” “Detroit Rock City” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.”
Frehley and Criss departed KISS decades ago, leaving Simmons and Stanley as the lone original members. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, the band spent four years on the road for their farewell “End of the Road” World Tour, officially retiring after their final concert at Madison Square Garden in December.
Yet despite leaving the stage themselves, they’ve set up digital avatars which will continue to play virtual concert sets. And the group sold their music catalog, name, image and likeness to the Sweden-based Pophouse Entertainment in April last year, in a deal reportedly worth more than $300 million.
We now know a little more about the movie –– it’ll focus primarily on the group’s early formation in the 1970s.
Here’s what Stanley has said about his time before joining the band:
“I was deaf in one ear and had a slight deformity that made me look different. I was this short, fat kid, and music became my salvation, a place to hide and dream. And when I played music, there were always girls around.”
And here’s Simmons on what drew him from his life as a Hasidic Orthodox Jew from Israel to rock music:
“I remember walking out onto the street, seeing this Spanish girl jumping rope across the street, and staring at her long black hair slapping against this great butt. It occurred to me this was better than religion. How could I get near that?”
Where else have we seen Nick Jonas?
Nick Jonas in ‘The Good Half’. Photo: Utopia.
Jonas grew up on the Broadway stage in numerous musicals, including starring turns in ‘Les Misérables,’ ‘Hairspray’ and ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,’ and he played singer Frankie Valli in ‘Jersey Boys Live.’
He’s best known in music circles as part of family band The Jonas Brothers. The group –– siblings Kevin and Joe among them—rose to fame in the mid-2000s. They gained popularity through the Disney Channel, starring in ‘Camp Rock’ and their own show ‘Jonas.’ Their early albums like “It’s About Time” and “A Little Bit Longer” were big commercial successes.
The band took a hiatus in 2013 to pursue solo projects but reunited in 2019 with the hit single “Sucker”, which topped the Billboard Hot 100. They released the comeback album “Happiness Begins” the same year. They’ve continued touring and releasing music since.
Yet Nick has also found time to build out his acting career, appearing in movies such as ‘Midway,’‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,’‘Goat’ and ‘You’re Cordially Invited.’ He recently worked on ‘Power Ballad’ opposite Paul Rudd.
When will ‘Shout It Out Loud’? be in theaters?Backers STX Entertainment haven’t yet set a release date for the movie, presumably holding off until more cast are announced.
(L to R) Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Paul Stanley of Kiss in ‘Kiss Rocks Vegas’. Photo: Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Other McG Movies:’Charlie’s Angels’ (2000)’Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle’ (2003)’We Are Marshall’ (2006)’Terminator Salvation’ (2009)’This Means War’ (2012)’3 Days to Kill’ (2014)’The Babysitter’ (2017)’Rim of the World’ (2019)’The Babysitter: Killer Queen’ (2020)’Family Switch’ (2023)’Uglies’ (2024)Buy McG Movies on Amazon
