Morrissey biopic ‘Steven’ in the works

The charmer born Steven Patrick Morrissey is getting a biopic.

Morrissey -- of course known for his bleak, brooding pop songs as both the erstwhile frontman of the Smiths and as a solo artist -- will be the subject of a film titled “Steven.” The British production company Honlodge Productions announced the project Thursday, saying it will be directed by Mark Gill (an Oscar nominee for the live-action short “The Voorman Problem”) from a screenplay by him and William Thacker (author of the recent novel “Charm Offensive”).

The movie is to cover Morrissey’s early years, prior to forming a songwriting partnership with Smiths band mate Johnny Marr that would lead to international stardom and the sales of millions of records.

Whether Morrissey will be involved with the project is not yet known. The singer did recently share his own take on his life story via a 464-page memoir, “Autobiography,” released last year.

Gill, a lifelong Morrissey and Smiths fan, said in a statement that the film is “more of a portrait than a conventional biopic.” He added, “It’s as much a film for non-Morrissey fans as it is for die-hard devotees, but I can’t deny that this is a love letter to Steven Patrick Morrissey and the dark satanic mills of Manchester.”

Baldwin Li and Orian Williams are producing the movie, which is scheduled to start shooting later this year. Williams’ credits include “Control,” Anton Corbijn’s 2007 biographical film about Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, another Manchester musician.