McG to direct KISS Biopic ‘Shout It Out Loud’

The film would follow some of the career of the famed group set up in the 1970s by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

(Left) Director McG at the premiere of 'Terminator Salvation'. (Right) Kiss in 'Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park'. Photo: Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Preview:

McG is setting a deal to direct ‘Shout It Out Loud,’ a biopic of glam supergroup KISS.
Details on what the movie will exactly cover are unknown.
STX Entertainment is producing the new film.

Music biopics continue to be popular, with a handful at different stages of production or development right now, including films about Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell to name but a few.

And a movie about iconic glam rockers KISS is something that at least one company –– that would be Netflix, which had ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ and ‘Young Woman and the Sea’ director Joachim Rønning attached back in 2021, before the project fell into turnaround.

Now STX has moved to nab the rights from Polygram Entertainment, and director McG –– who has YA sci-fi thriller ‘Uglies’ hitting Netflix –– is locking down a deal to direct.

The most recent draft of the script is written by Darren Lemke, is based on a prior screenplay by Ole Sanders.

Who 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 Paul Stanley, Gene 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, in a deal reportedly worth more than $300 million.

As for whether the movie will go the full story route or focus on one chunk? That remains to be seen.

What else is McG working on?

(L to R) Clayne Crawford and director McG on the set of 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Richard Foreman/Fox.

Currently, the director is in production on ‘Way of the Warrior Kid’, the adaptation of Jocko Willink’s book about a self-doubting, bullied boy who learns to find his inner warrior with the help of his Navy SEAL uncle.

Chris Pratt, Jude Hill and Linda Cardellini are starring in the new movie, which is being produced by Apple and Skydance.

Way of the Warrior Kid

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A self-doubting kid who gets bullied learns to find his inner warrior with the help of his uncle, an elite Navy SEAL, who uses his training to guide the youth over... Read the Plot