Michelle Williams In Talks To Star In Director Sean Durkin’s Janis Joplin Biopic
AJanis Joplinbiopic has drawn interest from plenty of talent over the years, including actressesAmy Adams,Renee Zellweger, Reese Witherspoon, the lateBrittany Murphy, and filmmakersLee Daniels(The Butler),Jean-Marc Vallee(Wild), andCatherine Hardwicke(Lords of Dogtown). Another name to go on that list isMichelle Williams(Manchester by the Sea), who’s currently in talks to star in directorSean Durkin’sJanis, which will depict the last six months of the musician’s life.
Below, learn more about the Janis Joplin biopic.
Varietyreports Williams is in talks to play the iconic musician, who tragically passed away at the age of 27 from a heroin overdose. How far along these discussions are is unclear, but if the actress does sign on, she’ll replace Tony-winning stage actressNina Arianda. When Durkin, who made a fantastic debut film withMartha Marcy May Marlene, signed up for the biopic, Arianda became attached to star. The film was going to move forward with Durkin and Arianda with a price tag of $20 million and an early 2013 start date, but for whatever reason,Janiswas put on hold.
ProducerPeter Newman(The Squid and the Whale) has been trying to tell Joplin’s story for over 16 years. Newman — and this gives this biopic a leg up over the other Joplin film with Amy Adams in the works — has the rights to 21 of Joplin’s songs, in addition to her work with the Big Brother and the Holding Company, the first band the soulful rock singer led. The producer also got his hands on the rights to the letter collection, “Love, Janis,“David Dalton’s biography “Peace of My Heart,” hundreds of hours interviews,andthree appearances by Joplin on the Dick Cavett show. That sounds like a lot of material for a movie only about six months of Joplin’s life, but according to earlier reports,Joplinwill flashback to some of her earlier days and earliest performances.
For the past few years, Amy Adams has been a part of a competingJoplin biopic. Jean-Marc Vallee signed on todirect that filmlast, but it ran into somelegal trouble, which caused some delays. While promoting this year’sDemolition, Valleeconfirmedhim and Adams are still attached to the film;Dallas Buyers ClubwritersCraig BortenandMelisa Wallackare writing a new draft. As for Durkin’s biopic, at least the filmmaker and all involved are perhaps close to landing a dynamite actress for the job. You can see Williams next inCertain WomenandManchester by the Sea.
