Prince is the next artist to have their back catalogue turned into a musical movie.

Variety reported earlier this week that Universal Pictures have acquired the rights to a number of Prince's songs, with the plan to turn it into a movie ala 'Mamma Mia!'.

Their source says that the biopic angle has already been covered by 'Purple Rain', Prince's 1984 movie which was loosely based on his own life. Instead, a fictional narrative will be written with the songs Universal has acquired worked into the story.

It's early days yet, and no casting, director or screenwriters have been attached - and the songs themselves haven't even been confirmed for the movie, but it's telling that studios are now looking to musicals as money-spinners.

Given how 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was a box office smash, and 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' was a hit with audiences and critics alike, studios are snapping up musicals wherever they can.