A new movie based on the rise of MTV is officially in development. According to Deadline, Neon has acquired the rights to adapt the book 'I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution' by Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum.
Geremy Jasper will direct the film and will explore the early days of MTV and the people who believed music and television could change entertainment forever. Set in the early 1980s, the movie will show how MTV grew from a small experimental cable channel into one of the biggest forces in pop culture.
History of MTV
MTV launched in 1981 and quickly transformed the music industry by making music videos a major part of entertainment. The network helped artists become global visual stars and influenced fashion, youth culture and television throughout the decade.
Image Courtesy: People
The project comes at a time when MTV has closed its last remaining music-only channels, marking the end of an era for 24-hour music broadcasting.
Casting for the movie is still ongoing.
MTV And Director Geremy Jasper's Connection
Director Geremy Jasper also has a personal connection to MTV. He grew up watching the channel and later worked there during the 1990s and early 2000s. Jasper said the book immediately attracted him because of its exciting and wild look at the ambition, creativity and rebellious energy of the 1980s music scene. He also praised Neon for sharing the same bold and creative spirit that once made MTV a cultural phenomenon.
MTV first aired on 1st August, 1981, and famously launched with the music video 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles. Decades later, the same video became the final clip played on MTV Music before several music-only channels shut down in December 2025.
