Talk about unexpected casting choices. Nick Jonas — yes, that Nick Jonas — is stepping into some mighty big platform boots as Paul Stanley in the upcoming KISS biopic “Shout It Out Loud.” The news dropped like a bomb in entertainment circles, leaving fans of both pop and rock scratching their heads, yet somehow nodding in approval.
Let’s be real here. The idea of a former Disney Channel heartthrob portraying one of rock’s most theatrical frontmen might sound like a stretch. But hold that thought.
The STX-backed production, with McG at the helm, aims to capture the gritty essence of KISS’s rise from New York’s concrete jungle to global stardom. And honestly? Jonas might just be the perfect fit. There’s something oddly fitting about a performer who, like Stanley, knows a thing or two about evolving in the spotlight while keeping artistic integrity intact.
The timing couldn’t be more interesting. With production set to kick off either late 2025 or early 2026, the entertainment landscape will likely look quite different — though probably with fewer pyrotechnics than a KISS concert. The involvement of Stanley and Gene Simmons as producers suggests this won’t be just another sanitized rock story. Thank goodness for that.
Here’s where things get really interesting: Jonas plans to handle his own vocals. Bold move, considering Stanley’s voice has been filling arenas since before Jonas was born. But between his Broadway background and that falsetto in “Jealous,” he might actually pull it off. Maybe.
The film promises to dive deep into KISS’s formation and early years — back when four guys from New York decided that rock music needed more makeup and explosions. (Spoiler alert: they weren’t wrong.) This was the era that birthed the blueprint for rock theatrics, though good luck finding any modern acts willing to spit blood on stage.
Meanwhile, the search continues for someone to match Jonas’s star power as Gene Simmons. Finding an actor who can capture that legendary tongue-wagging, fire-breathing persona? Well, that’s gonna be… interesting.
With Darren Lemke’s script and the creative muscle of Universal Music Publishing Group and Pophouse behind it, “Shout It Out Loud” seems poised to break the tired biopic mold. The project’s got all the ingredients for something special — assuming they nail that tricky balance between rock ‘n’ roll grit and comic-book spectacle that made KISS legendary.
Sure beats another cookie-cutter music biopic, doesn’t it? Then again, this is KISS we’re talking about. Subtle was never really their thing — these are guys who literally put their blood into comic books. Sometimes the most unexpected choices turn out to be the best ones. Just ask anyone who thought makeup and rock ‘n’ roll wouldn’t mix.