How David Bowie Almost Scored Rocky Horror Movie Rights

So… here’s an unexpected bit of rock-’n’-roll lore: David Bowie nearly had The Rocky Horror Picture Show in his back pocket, and Richard O’Brien just confirmed it. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the musical’s creator revealed that Bowie—fresh off the glitz of Ziggy Stardust—approached producer Michael White in late 1973 about buying the fledgling film rights. That’s right: the Thin White Duke almost swapped sax riffs for studio pitches.

O’Brien’s exclusive scoop (Rolling Stone, Oct. 2023) explains how Bowie first caught wind of the stage production at London’s Royal Court Theatre Upstairs. Intrigued by its campy flair, he offered to bankroll a screen version, convinced that Frank-N-Furter’s mischief could translate to a cult classic. A subsequent People Magazine feature (Nov. 2023) adds that Bowie even drafted a letter of intent—though it never cleared legal. Public records filed with the UK Intellectual Property Office show Bowie’s option lapsed by mid-1974, paving the way for 20th Century Fox to seal the deal.

Bowie’s near-miss sneaks in right before the movie’s 1975 debut, which ultimately cost about $1.4 million and changed midnight-movie culture forever. Richard O’Brien, reflecting on it now, says Bowie’s interest was “thrilling but short-lived,” adding that scheduling conflicts and studio red tape killed the partnership. According to The Guardian, Fox’s quicker greenlight and broader distribution plan won over Michael White, leaving Bowie on the sidelines.

Flash forward four decades, and Rocky Horror reigns as a crown jewel of cult cinema—complete with audience participation, elaborate screenings, and an annual Halloween rush. Bowie, meanwhile, moved on to embrace acting and high-profile film cameos of his own. Yet, O’Brien credits Bowie’s early curiosity with legitimizing Rocky Horror in entertainment circles. “It showed that the outlandish energy of Frank-N-Furter had wide appeal—even to rock legends,” O’Brien told Rolling Stone.

For Bowie superfans, this revelation adds a new layer to his legacy: not just pop-music pioneer, but would-be film mogul. And for Rocky devotees, it’s proof that the universe once teetered on a Bowie-led midnight screening. Both camps owe a nod to the serendipity that kept Bowie in the wings and let Rocky Horror claim its own silver screen throne.

Anyway, that’s the inside track. Do with it what you will—just don’t smother your toast in too much trivia.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine
Rolling Stone
The Guardian
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed