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Andre Benjamin Developing a Jimi Hendrix Biopic Shooting in Ireland
by Alex Billington
May 7, 2012
Source: IFTN
"Excuse me while I kiss the sky." Just about everyone gets a biopic at some time, now it's Jimi Hendrix's turn. IFTN is exclusively reporting that musician Andre 3000 or André Benjamin, one half of OutKast, is developing and set to star in a feature biopic about rockstar Jimi Hendrix. The project is titled All Is By My Side and will begin filming around Ireland later this month, focusing on Hendrix's period in England over 1966 and 1967 when he worked on his debut album, Are You Experienced, released in 1967. Great casting for Hendrix, I just hope this turns out a better film than the Beatles' early years biopic Nowhere Boy.
All Is By My Side, which is an international co-production between Irish producer Tristan Orpen Lynch at Subotica Entertainment, Richard Kelly’s Darko Entertainment and Britain's Matador Pictures, is being directed by John Ridley making his feature debut after writing scripts for Three Kings, Undercover Brother, "Barbershop" and George Lucas' Red Tails. They're already in pre-production in Ireland, with principal photography set to begin in three weeks in the cities Dublin and Wicklow, lasting for six weeks. The cinematographer who shot Once , named Tim Fleming, is working on this as well. Numerous locations in Ireland are being used, as the film is set in 1966 and 1967 and will cover the period in which Hendrix was discovered and brought to the UK to record his debut album. It sounds like it'll be a lot of rockin' 60's fun.
While it seems like they've got financing and an entire crew together already, we'll keep you updated on any other details, including additional casting or first looks once they arrive. Expect to see some promo material from this at the Cannes Market next week, as I'm sure they're going to try and make a splash with the news that a Hendrix biopic is coming. André Benjamin has made quite a career for himself in acting, appearing in Be Cool, Four Brothers, Revolver, Idlewild, Battle in Seattle and Semi-Pro, but has been absent since 2008. I'm glad to see him making a comeback with an iconic role like this, let's see what he can bring to it!
11 Comments
1
Andre 3000, all right.
HealthyPoison on May 7, 2012
3
hell yes 3 stacks as jimi? i'm in
Croniccris on May 7, 2012
4
Love Hendrix, love Andre. I expect this will be great!
grimjob on May 7, 2012
5
Love Hendrix ,find Andre annoying..not really sure why...don't hate on me...He's talented.We'll see. Also,why does it have to be that every time there's a biopic about some musician an actual musician has to act the part? There are some great movies about musicians played by actual actors.Val Kilmer did a great Jim Morrison.
Talkin' outta my ass on May 7, 2012
6
Its cool, your opinion. Maybe, in some cases, it helps lend a bit legitimacy. But yes, Kilmer was the shit as Morrison.
grimjob on May 7, 2012
7
to old to play Hendrix.
happy camper on May 7, 2012
8
wasn't there a hendrix biopic? Pretty sure it was made for tv or straight to dvd though. Anyway I liked nowhere boy.
Greatbritain2k3 on May 7, 2012
9
quality of biopics depend on whether the filmmakers want to tell a true story, or put a myth up on screen for people to cough up some cash to see, instead of the necessarily limited existing footage of that person. not sure why benjamin has been chosen, unless it's for his passion for the part, as i don't see him being a significant draw on his celebrity alone. haven't seen him do anything to justify it, as an actor. i like seeing great actors deliver a bio without needing to be turned into a waxwork of the person. ian hart looks nothing like lennon but has played him twice to devastating effect. kilmer was the nuts as morrison though, looked like him in places too.
Candle_Wick on May 8, 2012
10
I think Showtime did a biopic about Jimi a little over 10 years ago. Wasnt really good. But at least there was something.
Friend or Foe on May 8, 2012
11
Im actually REALLY excited, and I always felt that if they were to make a Hendrix biopic, Andre would be the man for the job. I mean, this COULD be his chance to to be a breakout actor. You never know :l Now if Hollywood could get a Janis Joplin biopic already, Id be one happy guy ;D
LosZombies on May 8, 2012
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