Jimi Hendrix Biopic In The Works By ‘8 Mile’ Screenwriter And ‘Captain Phillips’ Director

The Jimi Hendrix estate has approved the creation of a biopic of the late musician. The film has been nearly six years in the making by Legendary Pictures. According to Rolling Stone, the film will be under the direction of Paul Greengrass and will be written by Scott Silver. The film will also reportedly include actual recordings by Jimi Hendrix such as “Purple Haze,” and “Foxy Lady.”

Reports have been made that the producer list is already decided, consisting of A-list filmmakers like Thomas Tull. Other producers reportedly included Janie Hendrix, Jon Jashni, John McDermott and Peter Afterman. Though the new Jimi Hendrix biopic is officially in the making after the go-ahead from his estate, it took a little convincing first.

When the project was first pitched to the Hendrix estate, it was introduced with a fully finished script by Max Borenstein (Minority Report 2015), and was rejected. The second time with Director Paul Greengrass, Legendary Pictures went back to the drawing board, where they added Thomas Tull and compiled the list of producers, which also includes Jillian Share (Run 2014) and Josh Bratman of Sony as executive producers. What promises that the movie is sure to be a hit may be the resume of the director himself.

Before he began working on the Jimi Hendrix biopic, Paul Greengrass was the A-list director behind Captain Phillips and United 93. At the time the Borenstein version of the Hendrix script came about, Greengrass was also in the process of directing the lasted Bourne Identity installment. His history in general is paired with his former success with biopics, specifically that of Jackie Robinson. Greengrass’ impressive resume is accompanied by the talent of an A-list screenwriter.

Scott Silver is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter with a history of writing gripping original screenplays. He is best known for 8 Mile, The Fighter, and Johns. Considering the fact the 8 Mile is a dramatized biography of the pre-fame life of rapper Eminem, Silver is no stranger to the creation of a great biopic either. The skepticism comes from the question, what life events will the Jimi Hendrix biopic highlight?

So far, few details of the storyline have been given. Before the project was finalized or any promotions were released, the film is already expected to be a hit because of the iconic status that Jimi Hendrix has held for years. After his untimely death in 1970 at the age 27, Jimi Hendrix has held the title, “greatest guitarist of all time.” There is no word yet on when the Jimi Hendrix biopic is expected to be released.

[Image via MusicTimes.com]