Bootleg Betty
People Ask Me, Hey! Whatever Happened To That Mae West Bio-Pic?
By Mister D
July 1, 2026
What happened to the Mae West bio-pic Bette Midler was supposed to make with the director of The Exorcist?
The Mae West biopic that Bette Midler was set to star in (for HBO Films, directed by William Friedkin) was announced in December 2013 but never advanced beyond early development and remains unproduced as of 2026.
Here’s the full story, based on the latest available information:
Announcement and key players (2013): HBO Films put the project in development with Bette Midler attached to star as Mae West and executive produce. William Friedkin (The Exorcist, among many classics) was set to direct and executive produce—it was his idea to bring to HBO. Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots) was writing the script, and Jerry Weintraub was also an executive producer.
It was based on Mae West’s 1959 autobiography Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It, focusing on her early vaudeville/Broadway years, the scandalous 1926 play Sex (which got her arrested for “corrupting the morals of youth”), fights with censors, and breakthrough with Diamond Lil.
Why it was exciting: Perfect match on paper—Midler and West both had that bold, brassy, self-made star power, rising from the New York stage later in life. Fans and outlets called the casting “perfect” and expected it to be a prestige HBO event.
What happened next: It quietly stalled in development hell. There were no further updates on script progress, casting, filming start dates, or a greenlight. No production ever began.
Current status (2026): The project is still listed as unproduced. Bette Midler’s Wikipedia page (updated and current as of June 2026) notes explicitly: “The project remains unproduced, and Friedkin passed away in 2023.” Recent fan discussions (2024 onward) routinely refer to it as something that “unfortunately never got made” or note that after more than a decade, “still no movie.” Recent fan discussions (2024 onward) routinely refer to it as something that “unfortunately never got made” or note that after more than a decade, “still no movie.”
Friedkin’s death in August 2023 (at age 87) effectively ended any realistic path forward in its original form, and there’s been zero indication of a revival, recasting, or new director.
Related note: Bette Midler did executive-produce a well-regarded 2020 PBS American Masters documentary called Mae West: Dirty Blonde, which explores West’s life, influence, and subversive career. It’s the closest thing that actually happened.
In short, it was one of those high-profile “what could have been” projects that simply never left the drawing board. Bette has stayed plenty busy with other work (Hello, Dolly!, Hocus Pocus 2, tours, etc.), but this particular Mae West film appears to be permanently shelved.
Overheard: Natasha Lyonne’s name was bandied about while still under William Friedkin’s production. but with his death that went nowhere fast, too.
Red Flag: Harvey Fierstein
Another one bites the dust…
Sources: Wikipedia, Deadline, Vulture, IMDB, My Brain lol
