Kurt Cobain Biopic Gains Writer

Posted by on October 19th, 2007   Filed under: Books/Comics, Movies, Music
Source: Coming Soon

I’m still on the fence when it comes to the idea of a Kurt Cobain biopic. There’s no question that he was one of the most influential musicians of my generation, and (if you’ll forgive the cliche) there were a few years in high school where I listened to nothing but Nirvana. His tragic death will forever remain a symbol of a tortured artist, the loneliness and isolation that can result from being a celebrity, and the scavengers that come out of the woodwork after someone famous dies. It’s a pretty important story, but I just can’t see a fictionalized account doing the story justice. Both Gus Van Sant and A.J. Schnack have offered decent interpretations of Cobain on screen, one being a plotless fly-on-the-wall approach to his final days, the other being a documentary narrated by Cobain himself through old interview tapes.

A while back we heard that Courtney Love had acquired the rights to Heavier Than Heaven, a biography written by Charles Cross, which she was hoping to turn into a feature film. Now it appears that she has struck a deal with Universal Pictures, who have taken on the project and hired David Benioff to pen the script. Benioff is a pretty well respected writer, known for adapting his novel The 25th Hour for Spike Lee to direct, before going on to write screenplays for Troy, Stay and The Kite Runner. It sounds like a good start to the project, but I still can’t shake the nagging suspicion that this movie will ring false, no matter what they do. What do you think, is this a movie you’d like to see on screen?



  • I think this could be good, although the Last Days movie was awful. When I was watching Across the Universe, everytime Joe Anderson was on the screen, all I could think was how good he could play a great Kurt Cobain. And after doing a quick search to find his name, apparently I’m not the only one. Look it up, he would be great. And, he can sing, not that he can sound like Kurt, but it’s possible.

  • I’m with you on this one. I think they should just leave things with the various documentaries that have come out over the years. But, it’s an instant money maker and Love is a little crazy…

    Any speculation on who will play Kurt?

  • I think Vincent Chase should play Kurt.

  • I think Cate Blanchett should play Kurt.

  • I’m definitely with Sean on this one. Sorry Cate.

  • krew

    Yeah, Vinnie Chase! Perfect fit.

    I might even look forward to this film, but not now, maybe 25 years in the future.

    And with Courtney Love involved, bah, total garbage.

  • LOVEhater

    courtney just wants to make this film of lies to further convince us that he killed himself, its all BS…i knew her 4-5 years before she met kurt – and she was a dramatic freak back then, i will never forgive her for her part in his death…evil witch

  • C

    I think Joe Anderson should play Kurt, too. Of course anything they produce will just be another holywood lie, but it should be amusing. Van Sant went a little crazy on the realism (not to be confused with facts). It seems like they are looking to cast more of a traditional, beefy, preppy, leading man as Kurt. That could be funny, but it could never be taken the least bit seriously, not from an artistic point of view. Joe is the best option they have right now. He has shown that he can play a similar character, and he plays guitar. I wonder why they arent looking at him, maybe he is too tall.

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  • I agree with the comment about Across the Universe… Joe Anderson, especially in close ups before the Vietnam parts, looks so shockingly like Kurt Cobain’s twin.

    As an avid Nirvana fan, I can only hope he is cast as he has already proved his lyrical talent, acting talent, and his looks for this particular role should make this contest evaporate.

    I’m for Joe – Love or any other fool that picks another bloke, well – f’ the movie then… I’ll just play all my Nirvana tunes and stare at a pic of Joe Anderson and say “Job WELL done, sir!”

  • ??XX??

    joe anderson will probblaby be the best sutied to play kurt he looks just like him

  • John

    Joe Anderson, without a doubt, he got a good voice too.
    I wonder if Joe is being considered at all though. From all the rumors of Courtney’s choices (Gosling, McAvoy, McGregor), all very well known. Joe is still new to the biz. Courtney wants to cast name brand to assure this one makes money. Height ain’t problem for Joe, Gosling is 6″1 at least. He’s a little too skinny, but that can be fixed.

  • Angelie

    Almost everyone agrees that Joe Anderson is best suited to play Kurt – even my dad, a worshipper of Nirvana back in the day got excited upon seeing Joe in ‘Across the Universe’ then the idea of a Cobain biopic.

    I really hope that Joe bags this part. It’d really help him career-wise and my god, the fans… The fans will think Cobain resurrected when they see Joe on-screen. Especially if he puts on a few pounds for this role. ;)

  • joe anderson definatly should play this role if he doesnt i will boycott the film. and dont let courtney pick the actors she wants completely inaccurate depictions with scarlett johansen to play her (lmao) she look nothing like her and scarlett is way too hot and sane for that role. the movie is already going to be bias in courtney’s favor as it is anyways which is already a reason to boycott because its her own version of the story which will of course make her look good and try to make cobain look bad. plus its already inaccurate because it shows suicide rather than a murder. she shouldnt have a say in anything nirvana does or anything connected to nirvana but she wishes she was in the band because she wants to be a man. (and why you say joe has to put on weight cobain was real skinny too)