The film is expected to be released in 2025
German rock icons Scorpions are the subject of a biopic from Ali Afshar’s ESX Entertainment. Deadline reports Wind of Change will tell the story of three unlikely friends — Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine & Matthias Jabs — whose passion for rock fueled their rise to fame in the 1980s.
The movie’s title stems from the band’s 1991 single inspired by the failed attempt by hardliners to seize control of the Soviet Union. In 1988, they were the first Western rock band to play five consecutive sold-out shows in the then-still Soviet Leningrad, defying state bans to stand with the USSR.
“Wind of Change” has become an anthem for peace, topping the charts throughout Europe, including their homeland of Germany. It peaked at No. 4 in the United States and No. 2 in the United Kingdom, selling more than 14 million copies globally.
“The Scorpions’ music has penetrated our culture in a big way,” Afshar says. “There is an evocative quality to their sound that is unmatched in the genre, which is one of the reasons hits like ‘Rock You Like a Hurricane’ and ‘Still Loving You’ continue to get so much airplay and fill movie soundtracks, and their music continues to connect with a new generation of fans across the globe. When my family fled Iran and came to the United States, the Scorpions’ music changed my life – if not saved it,” he continues. “I’m hoping that by telling the Scorpions’ story, we can bring some of that same inspiration to the world.”
The film is currently in production with the hope of a 2025 release to coincide with the band’s 60th anniversary.
Formed in 1965, the Scorpions are the most successful rock band of Continental Europe with more than 100 million albums sold.
