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Penn Badgley Set to Play Jeff Buckley in 'Greetings from Tim Buckley'

by Ethan Anderton
June 21, 2011
Source: 24 Frames

His star has been rising lately with praiseworthy turns in Easy A and a supporting role in the ensemble financial drama Margin Call (which we enjoyed quite a bit at Sundance in January), but now Penn Badgley (right) has snagged a role that should really allow him to show his talent. Smuggler Films has announced the actor will play musician Jeff Buckley, son of iconic musician Tim Buckley in Greetings from Tim Buckley. Dan Algrant (People I Know) will direct the film telling the true story of the days leading up to Jeff Buckley’s eminent 1991 performance at his father’s tribute concert in St. Ann’s Church.

Through a romance with a young woman working at the concert, the younger Buckley comes to understand the father who abandoned him. The musician's cathartic performance of his father’s most famous songs, results in a stunning performance which launches his career as one of the greatest young musicians of his time. Badgley is excited about the prospect of playing such an iconic musician saying, "To play a man who was singularly gifted as an artist, greatly misunderstood and mythologized as a human being. It’s something very special and sacred. I’m going to give all I can to this project.”

Of course, another big star of the film will be the music from the two musicians. While another gestating film from Jake Scott (director of Welcome to the Rileys and son of Ridley Scott) has been said to secure much of the music rights for their film looking at Buckley's life and career, producers say they have plenty of music to make their film rich with Buckley's signature tunes. 24 Frames says rights have been secured for many of Tim Buckley's songs as well as Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah, one of his most iconic songs. The question is whether or not Badgley can do his own singing. Word on the street is that Robert Pattinson might be up to play Jeff Buckley in Scott's biopic, and believe or not the guy can actually sing. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it goes.

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