9. Sam Cooke - Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Premise: A young gospel star becomes a huge hit and a massive influence in soul music, before his untimely death at just 33. Sam Cooke is one of the less-mentioned names on the legendary Motown label. In his short career, he influenced a scope of artists, recorded timeless singles, and even played a part in the Civil Rights Movement. Chiwetel Ejiofor, a name on everyone's lips at the moment, is perhaps the only man that could play Cooke in a movie. As everyone saw in 12 Years A Slave, he's capable of strong, stoic performances, and he's an actor who could certain inject a sparkle and charm into the role; there was reportedly friction between Cooke and his family, as Sam wanted to strike out and make more mature music, and Ejiofor's definitely an actor capable of a multi-layered, intriguing performance, that would stay true to the legend of the late singer. The tragedy and controversy behind Cooke's death is also a fascinating angle that many music fans aren't aware of. A biopic of Cooke would certainly open eyes to his wonderful music, and another interesting question remains: who could play Cooke's friend, Cassius Clay?