What happens to a boy band member after he leaves the boy band?Netflix’sI Used to Be Famouswill follow former frontman Vince (Ed Skrein) as he tries to write and release a solo album and revive his career. When he meets an autistic drummer named Stevie (Leo Long), he develops a friendship that results in a creative connection that can’t be ignored.
The film was written and directed by Eddie Sternberg, who is known for his shortOut of Body.I Used to Be Famousmarks his feature film directorial debut. Zak Klein, who wrote shorts likeThe FollowedandDeleting Emily, also helped write the film. Paul Grindey (The Father) and Damian Jones (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) serve as executive producers, with Collie McCarthy as a producer and Christopher Pencakowski as a co-producer.
Prepare forsome musicas we dive into the world of boy bands and everything there is to know aboutI Used to Be Famous.
I Used to Be Famous: The Plot
The synopsis gives a good idea of what audiences can expect from the film. From where Vince, the former frontman of the boy band Stereo Dream, is at in his life and where it leads based on a new friendship, it sounds like both he and his new friend will find something they didn’t know they were looking for.
Vince used to be in the hottest boy band around. Now the troubled former pop star is alone and desperate. He dreams of making a comeback and starts performing in the streets of Peckham, in the hope that someone, anyone, will listen. An impromptu jam with Stevie, an autistic young drummer with an incredible gift for rhythm, sparks an unexpected friendship between the two misunderstood musicians. Together they form a unique bond through the power of music.
It mentions that Vince is “troubled.” Did he fall down a rabbit hole similar to other young pop stars? Was there a scandal that caused him to be removed from the band? Did he quit to try and have a successful solo career, only for another band member to be more popular than him?
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The trailer gives more insight, showing how much Vince struggles to find himself and his career path. After all this time, he claims to be working on his first solo album, but when he goes around to different clubs and spaces, nobody wants to hear his work or have him perform in their place of business. He seems discouraged, resorting to just playing on the street, which is how he meets Stevie.
When the two play a gig, Stevie becomes overwhelmed, which causes his mother to forcibly break off the friendship between the two. It is clear there is a connection between the two, and they ultimately reconcile. Stevie speaks of wanting to attend music school, while Vince wants to reinvigorate his career. Will the two find what they’re looking for in life?
I Used to Be Famous: The Cast
Ed Skrein is Vince, the former frontman of Stereo Dream. He is most recognizable for his role as Ajaxin Marvel’sDeadpool, though audiences can also see him inAlita: Battle Angel,Midway, andMaleficent: Mistress of Evil. Stanley Morgan (The Sandman) plays the younger version of Vince in flashbacks to his glory days. Leo Long is Stevie, the drummer. He was selected from a nationwide search that included workshops with the director and screen tests with Skrein. Long’s only other acting credit is for the seriesProfessor T.
Additional cast members include Eleanor Matsuura (The Walking Dead,Into the Badlands, Zack Snyder’sJustice League) as Amber, Eoin Macken (La Brea,Merlin,The Forest) as Austin, Lorraine Ashbourne (Bridgerton,The Crown) as Cheryl, Neil Stuke (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) as Dennis, and Kurt Egyiawan (The Exorcist,Skyfall) as Dia.
Release Date
The film will be available to stream starting July 13, 2025.
Everything Else We Know
The film has caused quite the stir on the internet, with many thinking it is a documentary following an actual former boy band member.We Got This Coveredhelped separate the fact from fiction by clarifying that the film is a drama/comedy and not a piece of non-fiction following a real person.
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The article does let interested parties know that the movie is based on a short from 2015. It has a similar synopsis, following a former boy band member as he becomes friends with a musically gifted man with autism. The short was shown at several film festivals and won a variety of awards like Audience Choice, Best Screenplay, and Director’s Choice.
A culture-clash between a washed-up pop star and a musically talented young man with autism. Two opposite characters who transform each other’s worlds through the power of music.
In speaking withVariety, the writer and director discussed that Stevie is inspired by his cousin Saul Zur-Szpiro, who is autistic. He struggled to leave his home due to agoraphobia. However, music really helped him. Saul began to drum, forming his band, The AutistiX, and touring around the country. Sternberg felt this showed just how powerful music can be for people and wanted to incorporate that into his work.
Check out some other films coming tostreaming services this monthwhile you wait to watch Vince and Stevie’s journey.
