©Courtesy of Mercury Records

It is reported that Universal Pictures has won a bidding war for a biopic on the iconic Rock Band Bon Jovi from the 1980s to the 1990s.

Universal Pictures is creating a definitive biographical film about the early years of Bon Jovi, the group that grew from humble New Jersey roots to sell over 130 million albums and become inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

As they have sold over 130 million albums worldwide and produced countless major hits over the years with songs like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Bad Medicine,” “It’s My Life,” “Lay Your Hands On Me,” “Blaze of Glory,” “Keep the Faith,” “I’ll Be There For You,” “Raise Your Hands” and more.

The group consisted of singer and frontman Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarists John Shanks and Phil X, percussionist Everett Bradley and bassist Hugh McDonald.

Cody Brotter (“Killing Satoshi”) is writing the screenplay for the film but a director has not been set, nor has any casting begun. Kevin J. Walsh and Gotham Chopra produce.

The studio that made fact-based music biopics Straight Outta Compton and 8 Mile has invested in a package that will have the participation of leader Jon Bon Jovi and access to the band’s music library.