The official trailer for the long-awaited David Bowie biopic Stardust was released on Wednesday.
But fans were left unhappy by the initial teaser for the film, as they labelled it ‘terrible’ and ‘mediocre’ and called for a boycott after it was revealed the rock icon’s family did not approve of the drama.
Stardust follows Bowie, played by Johnny Flynn, as he tries to break into the US music industry in 1971 while plagued with doubts over his identity prior to the rise of his iconic alter-ego Ziggy Stardust.
Shock: David Bowie biopic Stardust was labelled ‘terrible’ by fans and they called for it to be boycotted after the film’s trailer was released on Wednesday (Johnny Flynn pictured)
Bowie’s son Duncan Jones, who he shared with ex-wife Angie, said of the film last year: ‘I’m 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 dads music in it, & 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.’
Fans took to Twitter to blast the film for managing to make Bowie seem ‘mediocre’ and said others should instead watch one of the singer’s many films he made prior to his death rather than the biopic.
Drama: Stardust follows Bowie (pictured in 1973) , played by Johnny Flynn, as he tries to break into the US music industry in 1971 while plagued with doubts before creating Ziggy Stardust
Unofficial: The rock icon’s family didn’t approve and none of his music will feature in the film, and his son Duncan Jones said last year that they had not given their ‘blessing’ for it to be made
One fan claimed: ‘There is no comparison between ‘Rocketman’, as a film, and ‘Stardust’ because Elton John was involved in the creation, and he was able to give that raw emotional account himself.
‘David Bowie did NOT want this. He and his family did NOT want a documentation of his life. Urgh.’
Another criticised: ‘Just watched a trailer for the new Bowie biopic,”Stardust”. Johnny Flynn is probably a lovely chap but this film looks really really awful.
‘Embarrassingly awful. It may be better than the trailer indicates but I doubt it. Everything about it looks wrong. #DavidBowie.’
Criticising the decision to go ahead with the biopic without Bowie’s music, another said: ‘The David Bowie biopic should be an absolute masterpiece, but this looks awfully mediocre. A film about one of the biggest rockstars ever, without having licence to any of his music was never going to work.’
Boycott: Fans took to Twitter to blast the film, and said others should instead watch one of the singer’s many films he made prior to his death rather than the biopic
Calling for people not to watch the film, one fan wrote: ‘Boycott stardust if you’re a Bowie fan, or just watch it on an illegal site.’
Another added: ‘Honestly, I have to give it up to stardust! never in a million year did i think u could made david bowie look boring, yet here we are, god bless (sic)’
Flynn transformed into the rock icon for the film’s official trailer, which was released on Wednesday.
The actor, 37, wore long locks to embody Bowie’s look from the time he recorded The Man Who Sold the World, which was released via Mercury Records in the United States in 1970 before coming out in the UK one year later.
Exciting: Flynn transformed into Bowie as the rock icon as he tried to break into the American music industry in the film’s first trailer, which was released on Wednesday
Opening with Bowie arriving in the states, he tells a person working at immigration control his stage name before smiling in delight, in start contrast to his agitated demeanour whilst talking with his manager.
’12 singles, every single one a total failure except space oddity. The record company finds the album too weird for the airs,’ Bowie is informed.
Determined to make his mark on the industry, the musician says passionately: ‘I need them to know, I need them to know me.’
Rise: The film details the musician’s journey to creating his iconic alter-ego Ziggy Stardust (R), with Johnny (L) appearing briefly with Bowie’s famous red mullet
Doubts: Bowie is seen agitated demeanour whilst talking with his manager about how ‘every single is a total failure except Space Oddity’
His manager hits back: ‘There’s only one guy at Mercury [Records] who doesn’t hate your new record with every bone in his body.’
Bowie then makes his way to the US, where he meets with publicist Ron Oberman, who helps him set up tour dates across the country where he will promote his new record.
‘It only takes one believer to change the world, we’ve got two,’ Ron tells Bowie, ‘two?’ the singer asks, as the record producer says: ‘Well you believe in yourself don’t you? I think you’ll be the biggest star in America.’
However things get off to a rocky start, as Bowie’s appearance on a radio show sees him freely admit his album is ‘about the years I spent dressing in women’s clothes and getting laid.’
Transformation: The actor, 37, wore long locks to embody Bowie’s look from the time he recorded The Man Who Sold the World (right)
Trailblazer: Determined to make his mark on the industry, the musician says passionately: ‘I need them to know, I need them to know me’
After the interview, Ron angrily berates Bowie by saying: ‘Want to know why it’s not working? If someone dares to ask you about the actual work you do the mystical mind man.’
Bowie tells him it is his ‘authentic’ self, and Ron says he should just try and ‘be someone else’ thus leading to the creation of Ziggy Stardust, his androgynous, bisexual alien rock star character who became iconic around the world.
Transforming into the flame-haired alter-ego, he explains: ‘I don’t want to go mad. I want to take my fantasies on stage.’
Stateside: Bowie then makes his way to the US, where he meets with publicist Ron Oberman, who helps him set up tour dates across the country where he will promote his new record
PR: However things get off to a rocky start, as Bowie’s appearance on a radio show sees him freely admit his album is ‘about the years I spent dressing in women’s clothes and getting laid’
Jena Malone, who portrays Bowie’s ex-wife Angie, then appears, as she reassures him: ‘Act like a star and they’ll think you’re a star. Don’t stop until you have them on the floor, grovelling.’
While waiting backstage for a show, Bowie is confronted by a friend who tells him: ‘You’re not a space alien, you’re from Bromley, man!’
To which he responds: ‘Oh yes I am. Rock star, or somebody impersonating a rock star. Whats the difference?’
The start: After accusing him of not being his authentic self, Ron tells Bowie he should just try and ‘be someone else’ thus leading to the creation of Ziggy Stardust
Making his mark: Transforming into the flame-haired alter-ego, he explains: ‘I don’t want to go mad. I want to take my fantasies on stage’ (Bowie pictured right in 1973)
Bowie adopted the persona Ziggy Stardust from 1972 to 1973, with the character featuring predominantly in the musician’s fifth studio album Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.
Earlier this year, a clip was released from the film to tease a glimpse of Johnny’s performance as the pop music icon.
In the preview, Johnny’s David doubts whether his third album will be a success in the United States and seeks reassurance from his publicist Ron.
Tease: Earlier this year, a clip was released from the film to tease a glimpse of Johnny’s performance as the pop music icon
In the brief clip, David asks Ron whether his record label are supporting the release of his record in the US, with the film taking place in 1971 following his now-iconic album The Man Who Sold The World.
David asks Ron: ‘Tony said Mercury had doubts about the record. He persuaded them to throw a load of resources behind the tour,’ before insisting he doesn’t want to appear ‘ungrateful.’
But Ron tells him: ‘The label has doubts… but I don’t. I think you’re going to be the biggest goddamn star in America it’s a great record, just no one knows how to sell you in America.’
As David questions whether Ron can ‘sell him’ in the States, he insists: ‘Hell yeah I do! Don’t get me wrong I’m a f****ng minority to one but all it takes is a believer to change the world and we’ve got two. If you don’t we’re really f****d.’
Legendary: The film depicts trip to the US in 1971 to try and build a career Stateside, setting the stage for the birth of his alter-ego (pictured right in 1973)
Pensive: In the clip David is doubting whether his album will be a success in the US, seeking reassurance from publicist Ron Oberman, played by Marc Maron
Along with his band Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, Johnny is also known for roles in Lovesick, Genius and most recently the period drama Emma.
Despite depicting the early days of Bowie’s career, his son Duncan Jones has insisted that the family have no involvement in the making of the film.
Bowie died on 10th January 2016 at the age of 69 after battling liver cancer, just two days after the release of his acclaimed album Blackstar.
The film has been directed by Gabriel Range, who said in a statement to Variety he was striving to see the story behind one of Bowie’s most famous characters.
Worried: Ron insists that with his and Bowie’s belief in the record they can succeed Stateside, following the release of his third album
Separate project: Despite depicting the early days of Bowie’s career, his son Duncan Jones has insisted that the family have no involvement in the making of the film
He said: ‘I set out to make a film about what makes someone become an artist; what actually drives them to make their art.
‘That someone is David Bowie, a man we’re used to thinking about as the star he became, or as one of his alter egos: Ziggy Stardust; Aladdin Zane; The Thin White Duke.
‘Someone I only ever saw at a great distance, behind a mask; a godlike, alien presence. Even in his perfectly choreographed death, he didn’t seem like a regular human being.’
Stardust was schedule to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this month, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
It is now being premiered as the Raindance Film Festival’s Opening night film on Wednesday, with a nationwide release date yet to be revealed.
On screens: Stardust is being premiered as the Raindance Film Festival’s Opening night film on Wednesday, with a nationwide release date yet to be revealed
Tragic: Bowie died on 10th January 2016 at the age of 69 after battling liver cancer, just two days after the release of his acclaimed album Blackstar (pictured with wife Iman in 2010)