The entertainment industry has seen its fair share of musicians-turned-actors from all across the generation. From industry legends like Frank Sinatra andBarbra Streisandto modern-day favorites Lady Gaga and Rihanna, there’s really no shortage of multi-hyphenates in a world where talent goes beyond a single path. While it is very much common to see this kind of transition among musicians, there is a path that not all our all-singing favorites go for. We’ve seen the entertainment industry come up with a pretty robust list of musicians-turned-directors. You have Talking Heads’ David Byrne, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, and White Zombie’s Rob Zombie, to name a few. However, the list shouldn’t stop there. The possibilities remain endless for everyone else on the roster. So, we put together a list of 15 musicians that would make fantastic movie directors. Stick around as some entries on the list may shock you.
15Childish Gambino
Donald Gloveron film and TV and Childish Gambino with a microphone and a dream — this modern icon already cemented his place in the hall of fame with his works. It’s easy to say that Glover is the most multi-hyphenated of them all, having done music, comedy, acting, writing, and even directing in the span of his career. The musician already won several Grammy Awards for his songs “Redbone” and “This is America”, making him one of the most celebrated musicians of this generation. He didn’t stop there, as he proved himself a TV industry favorite with writing credits for30 Rock, a starring role inCommunity, and a creator for the critically-acclaimedAtlanta. While Glover already directed episodes forAtlanta, his full-length directorial debut has yet to come. With what we’ve seen from his works on TV, it seems like the silver screen is the next platform for him to conquer.
14RM (BTS)
We know him as the leader of today’s biggest boy band, BTS.RM, whose real name isKim Nam-Joon, proves himself a musical genius by all means possible. He not only sings and dances with his group, but he also produces, composes, and even writes the lyrics to his own songs. The musician already established his name in the music industry, bringing home award after award with his group and individually as a solo artist. Unbeknownst to many, RM is also a visual artist, making him a great addition to our list. His art transcends beyond the ears and onto a canvas as well as other media. The rapper even proves his good eye for cinema, citingEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindas his favorite movie. RM has also been known to have creative input in many of his personal projects, and imagining him putting all those efforts into a movie definitely excites us.
She’s done it all — music, acting, fashion, beauty.Rihannais an unstoppable force in the industry, and it’s not hard to see her take on the director seat as his career continues to progress. The superstar has proven herself a great actress with remarkable stints onOcean’s 8alongside powerhouse actresses Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett. Rihanna also starred alongside Donald Glover in the moving featureGuava Island. Seeing how Rihanna absolutely conquered all the ventures she got into, directing a movie might just be an easy feat for her to achieve.
12Jared Leto
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying thatJared Letohas already cemented his place in the entertainment industry. The 30 Seconds to Mars frontman also stars in many acting roles on TV and in movies. With his career beginning in the mid-’90s with the teen dramaMy So-Called Life, Leto was never a stranger to the acting gig. Over the years, Leto has proven himself a celebrated actor when in 2013 his role in theDallas Buyers Clubwon him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. From here, it’s easy to see Leto transitioning from acting to directing his own movies. We’ve seen what he can do as an actor, and it’s great to see him take on the film industry with a directorial debut in the future.
11Claudio Sanchez (Coheed & Cambria)
If you’ve heard of the band Coheed and Cambria, then you must meet its frontman,Claudio Sanchez. To many, the band is just a progressive rock band that has been in the industry since 1995. However, not many know that some of the band’s songs have been adapted into a series of science fiction comics by Sanchez himself known asTheArmory Wars. The series continues to grow as the band releases more songs around it, and fans are eager to see amovie adaptation of the comic series. While there had been talks of the movie ever coming out, nothing concrete has come of it yet. Moreover, the best way to get the job done without losing the integrity of the story is to have Sanchez himself direct the movie. So, who’s in?
10Janelle Monáe
Beginning her career as a singer,Janelle Monáehas since transitioned into becoming a movie star in her own right. Her career as a Grammy-nominated singer turned into an award-winning acting career. Monáe proves that she has an eye for great roles with credits in critically-acclaimed movies such asMoonlightandHidden Figures, where she, alongside the rest of the cast, won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. With such a stellar acting career, it’s easy to see Monáe in the director’s seat.
As a surprise entry on the list,Doja Catdefinitely has what it takes to be a movie director herself. Doja Cat had a very controversial entry into the music industry with her song “Mooo!” With such an iconic start, Doja continues to churn out hit after hit with songs from her albumsHot PinkandPlanet Her, both with stunning visuals that seem to be unique to the singer alone. Doja Cat continues to share her stunning visions from music videos to the fashion scene with looks that are simply on-brand. Imagine a cosmic horror or even a romantic fantasy with Doja Cat as the director. Now that’s a vision we all like to have.
8Lady Gaga
Without a need for an introduction,Lady Gagahas completely mastered acting with her powerful performances in both movies and TV.Winning an Academy Awardfor her performance inA Star is Bornand an acclaimed performance forHouse of Gucci, Lady Gaga keeps us craving more. As she continues to show us what an amazing actress she is, we can’t help but wonder what her directorial debut would be like. We all know her unique eye for concepts as a pop star as well as her acting prowess; having her share all this knowledge and insights from the director’s seat should be an interesting film to see.
Related:Lady Gaga Shows Full Harley Quinn Look in Joker 2 Set Photos
7Mingyu (SEVENTEEN)
South Korean boy band SEVENTEEN consists of 13 members and one of them isMingyu. Known as the self-producing boy band, it’s not hard to fall in love with the multi-talented members of the group. Mingyu, however, sets himself apart with his love for directing the group’s vlogs and music videos. Equipped with a good eye for cinematography, Mingyu has already shared some of his works on the group’s social media as well as his personal pages. To much delight of the fans, Mingyu’s works show an unadulterated view of the group’s activities, especially when they’re in their free time. Mingyu is also skilled in painting and other graphic arts. With his skills and his innate talents, it’s easy to see Mingyu on his directorial debut and perhaps his acting debut as well.
6Pharrell Williams
Celebrated musician and producerPharrell Williamsproves to be a one-of-a-kind artist. From his storied music career, Williams has since ventured into the business world, specifically in fashion. From the success of his established streetwear brands, he later collaborated with luxury brands to create capsule collections regarded in the fashion industry for their unique appeal. In 2023, Williams even became the creative director for Louis Vuitton, following the footsteps of the late Virgil Abloh. While Williams’s influences lie in the music and fashion industry, it would be an interesting venture for him to take on the film industry. After all, as aStar Trekfan himself (thus the name of his record label, Star Trak), he could have a science fiction idea brewing right now.
