Britney’s back!

After selling 1.1 million copies of her memoir, The Woman in Me, it has been confirmed that Britney Spears’s heartbreaking yet inspiring story has been acquired by Universal Pictures for a film adaptation. The book, which was released in October 2023, details Spears's rise to fame, the well-documented difficulties she encountered, and her attempts to escape the long-standing conservatorship that had previously ruled her life. Since the film adaptation was announced on August 1st, fans have been sharing their opinions on who should play the Grammy-winning triple-threat, so let’s break down our top picks!

1. Elle Fanning

Best known for playing Catherine the Great in Hulu’s "The Great", among the long list of other A-list roles, a Britney fan herself, Elle Fanning would be a great pick to play Spears. Besides dressing up as her at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards when she performed "I’m A Slave 4 U" for Halloween, she can sing! Having covered multiple pop songs in 2018’s Teen Spirit, Fanning also showed her dance skills in the movie as well as studying ballet from a young age.

2. Sydney Sweeney

Although she may not be known for her dancing and singing abilities, Sydney Sweeney definitely has the acting chops for this part. Having roles in HBO’s "Euphoria" and "White Lotus", Sweeney has taken on quite dramatic characters that seem to vary emotionally. With the biopic showcasing heavy subject matter and possibly being an emotionally draining part, Sweeney has the experience to handle the character.

3. Addison Rae

A star on the rise that has gained a lot of fan attention for the role is the influencer Addison Rae. With she and Britney both growing up in Louisiana with a dancing background, she may be the most similar to her on this list. She has also broken into the film industry with her credits, including the horror movie Thanksgiving, Netflix’s He’s All That, and the upcoming animated film Animal Friends. With her newfound passion for singing, especially along with other mainstream pop stars such as Charli XCX, she completes the triple-threat.

4. Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts made headlines recently after Britney’s assistant, Felicia Culotta, suggested her for the role. She told Cosmopolitan, “I mean, it’s my true dream to play Britney Spears. It’s a rumor, but I hope maybe it’ll come true. I mean, I remember I locked myself in my room and listened to In the Zone and said, ‘I cannot leave this room until I memorize every word.'” Emma grew up on a Nickelodeon show, similar to Britney on "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club", so the two seem to share a similar upbringing. “I mean, I sing Britney to my son in the bath all the time. I’m always like, ‘God, he must think I’m so weird.’ That’s some millennial parenting.”

5. Bailee Madison

Speaking of child stars, Bailee Madison is one of the first to come to mind. In addition to appearing in Just Go With It, Bridge To Terabithia, and even playing a young version of the aforementioned Emma Roberts on Nickelodeon’s "Unfabulous", she even sings! Having released a single "Kinda Fun" this past January and "Chiller" in July, she’s on her way to becoming a triple-threat too.

6. Olivia Holt

Being able to sing, act, dance, and resemble Spears, Olivia Holt is a top choice. Growing up on the Disney Channel, similar to Britney, Olivia has had her fair share of time in the spotlight. With bigger roles recently on Freeform’s "Cruel Summer" and even taking her talents to Broadway to be in Chicago, she has the acting chops. A role like this would shoot her into superstardom!