David Bowie's son Duncan Jones criticises upcoming biopic Stardust, starring Johnny Flynn and Jena Malone

'Pretty certain nobody has been granted music rights for ANY biopic'

Duncan Jones and father David Bowie ( Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

David Bowie's son Duncan Jones has criticised plans for a biopic about his father starring musician-turned-actor Johnny Flynn as the iconic singer.

Stardust will focus on Bowie's first tour of the US in 1971. However, do not expect any of Bowie's music to feature in the film.

"Pretty certain nobody has been granted music rights for ANY biopic... I would know," Jones, also a director, wrote on Twitter.

"Im not saying this movie is not happening. I honestly wouldn't know. I'm saying that as it stands, this movie won't have any of Dad's music in it and I can't imagine that changing. If you want to see a biopic without his music or the families blessing, that's up to the audience."

Flynn, who initially came to national attention with his band Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, can currently be seen on the West End stage, starring opposite Kit Harrington in Sam Shepherd’s True West. He previously appeared in the film Beast and played the lead character in the Channel 4 / Netflix series Lovesick.

According to Variety, Jena Malone (Neon Demon, The Huger Games) will play Bowie's then-wife Angie, while Marc Maron (Glow) has joined the cast as the singer's record company publicist.

British filmmaker Gabriel Range (I Am Slave, Death of a President) will direct the biopic, with a script from Christopher Bell (The Last Czars). Filming begins in June.

Musical biopic are proving particularly popular at the moment. Following the success of the Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning Bohemian Rhapsody (about Freddie Mercury) will come Rocket Man (Elton John) and recently announced The Power of Love (Celine Dion).