Biopic – Skin Back Alley

Elizabeth Olsen cast as Hank Williams’ wife in new film

15/09/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Photo (C) Eric Charbonneau/Invision

Elizabeth Olsen has been cast as Audrey Williams, the wife of Hank Williams, in upcoming biopic I Saw The Light.

It was revealed earlier this year that British actor Tom Hiddleston had been cast in the lead role as Hank, with the film set to be directed by Marc Abraham.

During her life Audrey served as manager, duet-singer and touring band member with Hank. After his death she ran her own record label and production company, but quit music altogether in 1970 after having difficulty establishing a career as a solo musician. She died in 1975 at the age of 52.

I Saw The Light is scheduled to begin filming next month, with a release date expected some time in 2015. Rodney Crowell is serving as the film’s executive music producer, and the production has already secured the rights to use many of Williams’ most well known songs, including “Your Cheatin’ Heart”, “Hey Good Lookin'” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

Courtney Love: Kurt biopic will start filming within 12 months

24/07/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Courtney Love has said that a biopic about Kurt Cobain will start filming within the next 12 months.

Speaking in interview with Inquirer Entertainment, Love said: “The biopic should start within the next year or so. I won’t name names because I don’t want to jinx it for anyone but these are 25-year-olds who are blonde, gorgeous and the new Brad Pitts. There’s a ton of those. Some are really good actors, not just pretty faces. I don’t want to be the person who makes that decision.”

She went on to say that she will be involved in the film in some capacity, though: “I do have a say in it. So do Frances, and Krist (Novoselic) and Dave (Grohl), for that matter, if it touches on Nirvana — and it will. I am leading the charge because it’s time to do this.”

Courtney Love has said in the past that she has several plans for Cobain’s legacy, including a stage play and a documentary.

First trailer released for Hendrix biopic “Jimi: All Is By My Side”

04/07/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

The first trailer has been released for the new Jimi Hendrix biopic starring Outkast’s Andre 3000 in the title role.

Jimi: All Is By My Side has been scripted and directed by John Ridley, who wrote the screenplay for the Oscar winning film 12 Years A Slave. The film depicts events in the legendary guitarist’s life during 1966 – ’67, a period during which Hendrix moved to London, formed the Experience, and played his breakthrough set at the Monterey Pop Festival.

The film won’t feature any songs written or recorded by Hendrix, as the late guitarist’s estate refused permission for their use. Instead, Andre 3000 performs songs by artists such as The Beatles and Muddy Waters that Hendrix covered during his lifetime.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, and features a supporting cast including Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots, Burn Gorman and The White Queen’s Ashley Charles, who plays a young Keith Richards.

A UK release date has yet to be confirmed. You can watch the trailer below:

Tom Hiddleston cast as Hank Williams in new biopic

15/06/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

British actor Tom Hiddleston has been cast as country music legend Hank Williams in a forthcoming biopic about the star.

I Saw The Light will tell the story of Williams’ life and early death at the age of just 29 in 1953. The film is to be directed by Marc Abraham and is due to start shooting in Louisiana in October. Hiddleston will do his own singing in the film, and it is reported that the production has also secured the rights to Williams’ back catalogue, so a host of Williams’ hits are expected.

In 2011 Jack White and Bob Dylan were among the stars to contribute to collection of recordings of songs by Hank Williams. The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams bought together a host of never-before-heard songs from the songwriter. The 12 songs on the album were based upon notes made by Williams which were found after his death in a leather briefcase which belonged to him.