Tons of biopics are in the making as I type. The Steve Jobs biopic has almost finished casting (more about that later,) the casting for an NWA movie (!!!) is under way, and more pictures are being released of Naomi Watts looking nearly identical to Princess Diana. After changing the title last month from Caught in Flight to simply Diana, the studio has been providing sneak peeks behind the scenes and showcasing the brilliant casting of Watts as the tragic princess. Let’s see the matching gowns and coiffure after the jump, as well as more biopics in production and how similar the portrayals look.

It seems that studios have recently been striving to capture the more personal stories behind the lives of our most powerful and culturally defining icons. To be honest, this seems like a breath of fresh air from the countless remakes and multiple superhero franchises currently vacating our theaters. A lack of new ideas and the insistence to reinvent past commercial successes again and again has wrought the silver screens with what I call “greedy regurgitation.” Can studios please take a chance on something inventive and new? Pleeease?

The core plot of biographical films are based on reality and that content itself begs for theatrical treatment. Some of our generation’s icons seriously do have a story that courageous, enthralling and ultimately misunderstood. However, biopics are usually under intense scrutiny from diehards because of other elements worked in for enhanced storytelling that may stray from reality. Families object, nations demand the truth, and critics are always game to point out the discrepancies.

So for the biopics currently in production, how will they fare as they attempt to uncover the true stories? Will they glamorize their subjects or throw them into a harsher light?

And how does the public feel about the casting choices for each icon? Naomi Watts is a phenomenal actress and undeniably looks the part of Princess Diana. We haven’t seen the full acting potential of Andre 3000, but his role as Jimi Hendrix may put all doubts to rest. And can we talk about Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs? I have an irrational hatred for Punk’d pioneer Kutcher (I really can’t find a reason, guys) and he doesn’t have a well-established penchant for dramatic roles, but I’m curious to see what he can produce.

Click through to see recent castings of famous figures in history, with some actors even in character, and tell us what you think about them!

What are some icons you’d like to see portrayed on film? Are there any past biopics that really stand out, good or bad?

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