Joni Mitchell movie: Cast, release date, songs and plot of Cameron Crowe's long-awaited biopic

4 February 2026, 11:51

Joni Mitchell is long overdue a biopic. She's going to get one from one of the all-time great music movie makers.

Yes, you can't move for music movies these days. The all-conquering success of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody has paved the way for a massive wave of biopics, with no star being deemed too big to be played up on the big screen.

In just the last few years we've had films about Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley, and soon there'll be one, two, three, four films about The Beatles. But one star whose story absolutely deserves its own movie is Joni Mitchell.

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There are so many stories about Joni Mitchell that would be individually worthy of the movie treatment.

There's her struggles with polio as a child, her rise to prominence as one of the all-time great folk singers and songwriters, plenty of controversy, her collaboration with Charles Mingus, brain aneurysm, retirement and stunning comeback.

It's still early days, but given that the film looks like it's finally happening we've started rounding up all the information you need to know. We'll keep this article updated as the project progresses.

What will the Joni Mitchell movie be called?

Joni Mitchell - River (Official Music Video)

No name yet for the movie at this relatively early stage, but we're going to take a punt on something simple like Joni, or one of her excellent song titles, like Both Sides Now, The Circle Game, Little Green, Blue, or River.

Maybe they'll opt for Lady of the Canyon?

We'll let you know as soon as it's announced.

What is the release date for the Joni Mitchell movie?

The Joni Mitchell movie doesn't have a fixed release date just yet, but shooting is projected to start in 2026. That suggests a release date of some time in 2027. As more gets confirmed, we'll let you know.

Speaking to The New York Times in September 2025, director Cameron Crowe (more on him imminently) confirmed that the movie was definitely happening and that more information would be coming soon.

"We’re going to make it next year," he said. "There’s not a lot I can say about it. Soon I’ll be able to speak more definitively about who’s in it and how we’re gonna do it and everything."

Who will play Joni Mitchell and the other key characters in the movie?

It's still early days, and there's not been anyone 100% confirmed to star in the movie – either as its lead or in a supporting roles.

But there's been widespread reports that at least two women have been tapped to star as Joni Mitchell in different parts of her life.

In July 2024, TheInsneider reported that Hollywood royalty Meryl Streep was in line to play the older Joni. And in August 2025, the same outlet reported that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga star Anya Taylor-Joy would be playing the younger Joni.

And in January 2025, record executive Clive Davis confirmed that Meryl was in line to play Joni.

Asked about the reports last year, Crowe said: "Can’t confirm that. I wish I could."

No word yet on any of the other casting, though.

Who is writing and directing the Joni Mitchell movie?

Joni Mitchell's return to live music was one of the most stunning comebacks in pop history.

Not quite on the same level, but filmmaker Cameron Crowe has been away for quite a while too. His last feature film was 2015's romcom Aloha. His last movie to really get serious acclaim was his semi-autobiographical Almost Famous in 2000.

Since then he's been focusing on raising his two sons, as well as trying (and failing) to make a Marvin Gaye biopic.

But it feels like this Joni Mitchell film will be a major return for Cameron Crowe.

He's an old friend of Joni's having interviewed her back in 1979. He got in touch with her nearly five years ago to pitch the project, and since then they've had plenty of back and forths as he gets the script together.

"It’s been incredibly inspiring — the most I've interviewed anybody, the deepest-tissue kind of conversations I've had with any artist," Crowe told the NYT. "I’ve found it invigorating and can’t wait to make the movie."

What is the plot of the Joni Mitchell movie?

Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now (Live at the Newport Folk Festival 2022) [Official Audio]

We're not yet clear what ground the Joni Mitchell film will cover, but given the rumoured casting (29-year-old Anya Taylor-Joy and 76-year-old Meryl Streep) that we'll have at least two time periods to tick off, possibly covering that 2020s return.

Crowe has revealed that he has long "had a dream of a structure" for the film and said that it "should feel like a Joni Mitchell album".

What songs will feature in the Joni Mitchell movie and will they be sung by the cast or lip-synched to the originals?

"Downtown (Downtempo)" performed by Anya Taylor-Joy - Official Music Video - Last Night in Soho

Given that Joni Mitchell has been heavily involved in the movie, we're going to assume that she's allowing her music to be used in the project.

No word yet either on the songs that will be included or if the cast will sing them themselves or just mime along to the Joni versions.

It's worth noting that Anya Taylor-Joy does have a decent set of pipes, and gave a stunning rendition of Petula Clark's 'Downtown' for the soundtrack of Last Night in Soho.