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Taylor Swift to Play Singer Joni Mitchell in Music Drama 'Girls Like Us'

by Ben Pearson
April 20, 2012
Source: Variety

Real-life singers portraying other singers on screen is not a new trend: Jennifer Lopez in Selena, Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls, Eminem in 8 Mile, Britney Spears in Crossroads and the list goes on. According to Variety, country pop singer Taylor Swift is going to be the latest to continue the pattern, as she's attached to play the iconic Joni Mitchell in an adaptation of Sheila Weller's book Girls Like Us. The movie will serve as a biopic of Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon, two other singer/songwriters who helped define the music of the 1960s, and will mark the first big screen drama for Taylor Swift. More below!

Swift has acted before, starring in the 2010 romantic comedy Valentine's Day and lending her voice to Universal's animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Girls Like Us will be the directorial debut of "House" producer Katie Jacobs, and she'll direct a script by Eight Men Out screenwriter John Sayles. Variety points out that Swift hasn't signed on the dotted line quite yet, so there's a chance this could fall through, but I think her musical talents are enough to help her lock down the job. Alison Pill (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) has apparently read for the part of Carole King, and I'm a big fan of hers so I hope she snags that part. Production is scheduled to start this year, but the film hasn't been greenlit yet.

Filed under Casting, Development, Movie News

From around the web:

grimm42

Well, that just makes me angry...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ5hK-D8kRQ Crapola

Well aint that a motherfucker. Surely there's some gaunt looking female out there that looks like her? I like Joni Mitchell, Taylor Swift not so much.
coolit43

I'd rather see Hillary Swank play Joni Mitchell. Taylor Swift? Singers playing singers work sometimes...
beevis

taylor swift playing joni mitchell? what a joke.
Ehsan Davodi

If I Wana see another musical movie I like it was in class of "Once" I fell in love with that film
Tx_dove

When I first heard this..I thought it was a joke. Taylor Swift as Joni Mitchell..no way!! There are many talented actresses that can sing to play that part. Someone needs a reality check! Taylor can't sing or act. The movie will be a BIG flop!
flying777

Taylor Swift is a prefect choice for this role. Although she is a little young to play Joni. She is 22, Joni did not get big utill she was 27. Swift does have alot of haters, but she has 6 grammys (voted by her piers) and is a bigger seller than Joni's total career, with just 3 albums.
- beevis
  
  it isn't just swift - the music industry in general is complete crap and hasn't been worth much in a LOOOOOOONG time.
  - flying777
    
    I love The music of Joni Mitchell, the thing about this is that Taylor Swift in the role would take a nice art film that few would see that are younger than 50yo to a much bigger group of young people. Very few people under 25 have ever listen to Joni Mitchell.
Kendellyan

Flyinh777…I don't think Joni set out to sell records, nor in any case are the sales of someone's music a true representation of their success.
Guest

So no "I'mma let you finish" jokes?
The Rock

Forget this casting nonsense...the thing I want to know is why wasn't Joni's Amelia included in the movie about Amelia Earhart?
- Jeandurw9d
  
  Rock....me too...Amelia is a beautiful song as are so many of Jon's...maybe Joni didn't release it?
Mr_2

Swift looks like she's getting ready to catch a mouthful. Who knew she liked porn so much.