The years have seen countless musicians cross over into the acting world, and of late, indie films have featured their fair share of artists taking a stab at a new medium. Will Oldham (who actually was an actor first, starring as a child in "Matewan"), James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem), David Yow (Jesus Lizard) and Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney) are among those who have traded the stage for a set, and now Deerhunter and Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox will be making the transition with the Jean-Marc Vallée-helmed '80s-set AIDS drama “The Dallas Buyer's Club.”
Written by Craig Borten and Melissa Wallack, the film is based on the true story of Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey), who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986 and was given only months to live. With nothing to lose, he began experimenting with underground, non-FDA-approved drugs, and wound up living longer than expected. He began getting these drugs into the hands of other AIDS sufferers as well, but it wasn't long before the FDA tried to shut him down. Cox, whose distinctive tall and gaunt figure comes as a result of Marfan syndrome, will be playing cross-dressing Jared Leto's lover in the picture.
Jennifer Garner, Griffin Dunne, Denis O’Hare and Steve Zahn round out the cast. “The Dallas Buyer’s Club” is currently shooting in New Orleans. [THR]