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Back in 2009, Legendary Pictures was trying to bring a Jimi Hendrix biopic to life, but they couldn't gain the rights to the rock icon's library of classic songs, so the project eventually fell back into development hell. Andre Benjamin ended up starring in a film called Jimi: All Is By My Side that was an unauthorized take on the musician's life, but now it appears that Legendary's patience has paid off. Deadline reports that the company has permission from Hendrix's estate to use all of his songs for a biopic, so the project is back on again.
Paul Greengrass was originally going to direct and he had discussions with Anthony Mackie to star, and now Greengrass is circling the movie once again and theoretically eyeing it for his next project following the upcoming fourth Bourne film with Matt Damon. No word yet on if Mackie is still in talks, but I imagine they'll need someone a little younger to pull off Hendrix's look, considering the real man died at the age of 27. Scott Silver (8 Mile, The Fighter) is writing the script, so this is shaping up to be the definitive film about one of the most famous musicians of all time. It should be awesome to hear the real songs in their full glory.
