Hendrix official movie gets green light

[Sharp Dressed Man]

Legendary Pictures have reached an agreement with Jimi Hendrix’s estate to make an official movie about his life.

The project follows last year’s unauthorised biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side. John Ridley’s work was released without any Hendrix music after permission to use it was refused – while the icon’s former girlfriend Kathy Etchingham repeatedly slammed violent scenes that she insists never took place.

Now Deadline reports that a currently untitled film will be written by 8 Mile author Scott Silver. It follows an original approach to Experience Hendrix LLC four years ago, while director Paul Greengrass and producer Thomas Tull were pushing a script by Max Borenstein.

The deal was never made after the estate firm, run by Jimi’s sister Janie Hendrix, expressed concern that a film would hurt sales of his back catalogue.

It’s been confirmed that the work will include some of that material on its soundtrack. Actor Anthony Mackie was original choice for the lead role, but no casting details have been confirmed.

Last year Andre Benjamin of Outkast fame, who played Hendrix in All Is By My Side, admitted he’d found playing the role difficult – but added: “We wanted to make a more human, more character-based film, rather than just trying to recreate existing footage.”

Source: The Blues Magazine

Now we're talking!

 

[AboutAGirl]

Good news. I was disappointed when that other film wasn't able to use any of his actual songs. That's a bloody hard sell right there, a biopic without the artist's music!

 

[JimJam]

Room Full of Mirrors by Charles R. Cross is a very good Hendrix biography. There is plentiful video footage available of Hendrix in concert and in interview. I prefer these options to a dramatized movie of his life. These bio-pics are always filled with distortions of the real story.

 

[Squidbilly]

Jim Jam

the real story.
Yes ,The real story,
On him growing up&his time the military,
The man &his reasons for making the music he did,Not just drugs&shit.

 

[Phil B.]

I have to admit, I am very guarded on any attempts to film Hendrix's life, especially now his "family" (loosely translated as recipients to royalties) are involved. The last biographical attempt was a disaster. For the true fans out there, may I recommend "Hear My Train A'Comin", a tasteful documentary backed up by PBS.

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin' | Director's Cut Video | American Masters | PBS | American Masters | PBS

It's kinda sad that some of the bootleg stuff I have seen puts much of this stuff to shame. Between the exploitation after his death and the families greed over his material, I just shake my head. Hendrix was never about any of that.

Edit to add: sorry to be such a sour puss. I will be watching with baited breath in any event.

 

[JimJam]

I have to admit, I am very guarded on any attempts to film Hendrix's life, especially now his "family" (loosely translated as recipients to royalties) are involved. The last biographical attempt was a disaster. For the true fans out there, may I recommend "Hear My Train A'Comin", a tasteful documentary backed up by PBS.

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin' | Director's Cut Video | American Masters | PBS | American Masters | PBS

It's kinda sad that some of the bootleg stuff I have seen puts much of this stuff to shame. Between the exploitation after his death and the families greed over his material, I just shake my head. Hendrix was never about any of that.

Edit to add: sorry to be such a sour puss. I will be watching with baited breath in any event.

I will hope for the best and expect the worst with this dramatization. As you and Squidbilly alluded to, not only distorting the story but the exploitation factor. I dread thinking how his death will be depicted.

Despite his early druggie death, i don't put Hendrix in the same druggie class as many other rock star of the period, or later periods. Guys like Iggy and Keith were much worse but did not have one horrible night as Hendrix did.

That documentary is outstanding, superior to the early one from the '70s called Jimi Hendrix. But even that one has its merits, such as the concert footage.

 

[Sharp Dressed Man]

There is plentiful video footage available of Hendrix in concert and in interview. I prefer these options to a dramatized movie of his life. These bio-pics are always filled with distortions of the real story.

Agree with that. But since there is no avoiding a biopic, I am happy that it will at least have official backing and will include Jimi's music.