Stardust: David Bowie biopic starring Johnny Flynn will be released in UK this year

Trailer was released in October to a mixed reception from fans

Stardust, the unauthorised biopic about David Bowie’s life, will be released in the UK in 2020.

The film stars Lovesick actor and musician Johnny Flynn as Bowie, and is set in 1971 shortly before his Ziggy Stardust era.

As reported by Variety, British distributor Vertigo Releasing has secured the UK rights to the film, and will release it before the end of the year. This will follow its US debut, which is set to take place on 25 November.

Despite having an impressive cast including Marc Maron and Jena Malone, Stardust has not had the best start so far.

In October, the film’s trailer was finally released and provoked a mixed response from Bowie’s fans, many of whom said that Flynn could not “look less like” the “Starman” singer.

Flynn in ‘Stardust’ (IFC Films)

“This guy looks nothing like Bowie. It's just a guy wearing a Halloween costume of David Bowie. Seriously, there are plenty of other ways you could celebrate his legacy and not do a biopic,” one commenter wrote.

Much of the criticism around the film has come from its unauthorised nature.

Bowie always expressed a desire to not have film made about his life, meaning that Stardust was made without approval from the late artist’s family and estate.

As a result, the trailer and film do not have the rights to use Bowie’s music, which some fans said gave the project an uneasy feel.

“How in the world do you make a David Bowie film with no music, no emotion and no life or personality whatsoever? Who let this be made?” one fan questioned.