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Kristen Stewart to Play Joan Jett in Runaways Biopic

by Kevin Powers
December 3, 2008

I guess the dark air of Twilight caught the attention of music video director Floria Sigismondi, as the woman behind Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" video is set to write and helm a biopic on the first all-girl rock band, The Runaways, and wants vampire victim Kristen Stewart to take on the role of rock legend Joan Jett. If you're scratching your head, I'm with you. Stewart can certainly pull off the look and is a fair actress by most accounts, but I'm going to find it hard to bridge her swooning Bella character in Twilight and the badass, ballsy rocker Jett, who went on to sing "I Love Rock and Roll." Of course, this is great news for Stewart and her career, but I wonder how fans of Jett and The Runaways will take this news.

Sharing the screen with Kristen will be another rocker chick playing the role of Cherrie Currie, the lead singer for The Runaways. During the time of the five-girl band, Jett played guitar and actually achieved further success in her own right after the band dissolved 1979. Though The Runaways were only active for four years, they certainly made a mark in the industry and arguably paved the way for artists down the line. The group disbanded amidst money and management disagreements. The film is said to center on Jett and Curie, and detail the rise and fall of the group who brought us, amongst other hits, "Cherry Bomb".

How well Stuart does at Jett - and how the movie does as a whole - will be heavily influenced by who plays Currie. There's no word there yet, but we'll certainly keep an eye out. Currie was 16 (as was Jett) at the time of joining The Runaways and was often likened to David Bowie in style and performance. What other actress might compliment Stuart and fit with Currie's personality? Maybe Evan Rachel Wood? That would be ironic since she dated Marilyn Manson for quite some time, but she would completely kill Stuart in terms of ability. Keira Knightley, perhaps? Maybe Kirsten Dunst is more of an equitable pairing to Stuart, though not a rocker in the least? Who do you think would make a good Cherrie Currie?

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hootie

this is probably based on "edgeplay" a made for cable movie. BTW... there were two famous runaways .. joan jett and Lita ford. the story is pretty disturbing. but more than anything their parents are just as much to blame as their manager. they let these girls 14 -16 go out on the road with this strange guy unsupervised. for 4+ years. check out edgeplay (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216731/)
Scott McHenry

she'd be a good fit
bourneidentity

I'm sure this movie would be good or at least interesting at some point in time. But I thought most Bio Pics are done when the person or people are gone? Am I the only one thinking this? If we are gonna do Bio Pics and of this nature of a group that put music on the map why not do one on The Ramones? Joeys gone, and Johnny. Maybe an even more interesting one would be on The Clash. Sturmmer is gone and if you ever see the documentaries on the group where they started from and what led to the demise and finally the break up was quite interesting. Am I the only one on this train?
http://www.flickr.com/uneak bret

well we know she has the drug part down already and the laid back "im out of it all the time" persona. not a big kristen stewart fan lol Maybe she will step up her acting game for tis.
http://popculturecurmudgeon.blogspot.com Jen

I have a hard time picturing who should play the other girls.
http://www.blogawayla.com Ivan Jaime

If the movie is to be titled The Runaways, then Marvel better find a new name for the comic book they want to adapt for the big screen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaways_(comics)
janet

I agree that who plays Currie is going to make a big difference in how this movie plays out. I actually think it needs to be an unknown or maybe another small indie actress. As for your picks I kind of think they are all too old except for Wood to be considered for the part. I like Stewart but I'm worried she's becoming one note. Hopefully, she'll be really different as Jett...more confident, outgoing and less blase.
Tim "Cloverfield"

I met Kim Fowley and the Runaways back in the day. They were the "worst" BEST all chick band ever! Joan was a Gem. Seeing her again 20 years later when we did a show and she remembered what we did and how we met through Fowley. This is awesome news.
tzarinna

I love Joan Jett.
Nathan

Joan Jett is simply the best rock chick ever born to date I truly (and I have sat here thinkin' for 10 mins) don't know who would successfully play her with the depth Joan has in her eyes, that voice and such sincere gutsy style. Stuart is way tooo lame and just 'cos she starred in Twilight, does not give her an edge, that dark movie did that for her. Geez, when something like this happens with not enough strong talent around....where's a Bette Midler from The Rose when you need one.