S. Samuel
After months of speculation, OutKast rapper Andre 3000's return to the Hollywood big screen has been confirmed with reports claiming he will indeed portray late rocker Jimi Hendrix in an upcoming film.
Set to begin filming in Ireland next month, production details have surfaced online.
IFTN understands that ‘All Is By My Side’ will document Hendrix’s period in England over 1966 and 1967 as he formulated his debut album and some of the greatest guitar music ever created. The feature film will be written and directed by John Ridley, who is best known as the writer of ‘Three Kings’ and ‘U-Turn’. The project is currently in pre-production in Wicklow, with principal photography set to begin in three weeks time in Dublin and Wicklow. The shoot will last six weeks in total. (IFTN)
Movie plot details have also been unveiled along with the flick’s time setting.
The film will be set in 1966 and 1967 and cover the period in which Hendrix was discovered in a New York club by Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richard‘s then girlfriend Linda Keith. She subsequently introduced Hendrix to manager Chas Chandler who brought Hendrix to London in 1966, where he recorded his debut album ‘Are You Experienced’ and had his first taste of success. Over that period – 1966 to 67 – Hendrix went on to formulate some of the greatest guitar-driven records ever made. (IFTN)
Last summer, reports of a Hendrix biopic being in the works were nixed.
The Experience Hendrix estate, in charge of all Hendrix material and images, have squashed the hopes of a biopic going forward, along with the our fantasy of this perfect casting. Experience Hendrix and their CEO, Hendrix’s sister Janie, have “made it known many times in the past that no such film, were it to include original music or copyrights created by Jimi Hendrix, can be undertaken without its full participation.” A musician’s biopic without music? That is decidedly unfoxy, lady! (The Boom Box)
In early July, Captain America actress Hayley Atwell said Andre 3000 was slated to star in the film.
Next up is possibly a Jimi Hendrix biopic — an independent film with Andre 3000 from OutKast playing Jimi Hendrix. But I don’t know, really. The Atwell team is like, Let’s just wait and see… I love how I call them Team Atwell because each of them works with fifty other people as well. Sometimes they forget who I am. I was on the phone with a member of Team Atwell once, and we chatted for like half an hour and he said, “I really loved you in that film.” And I said, “I wasn’t in that film.” Team Atwell doesn’t even know who Hayley Atwell is. (Esquire)
