The year was 2010, and at the time Amy Adams was attached to play famed rocker Janis Joplin with “City Of God” helmer Fernando Meirelles to helm. Or that was at least the plan. And then there was nothing heard again about a biopic until earlier this year when “Martha Marcy May Marlene” helmer Sean Durkin signed up for “Joplin” with Nina Arianda in the lead role. And now, there is some fierce competition from Adams, as her movie is back moving, not only eyeing a similar start date but bringing a name director along with it.
“Precious” and “The Paperboy” helmer Lee Daniels is in talks to direct “Get It While You Can.” Ron and Theresa Kounin-Terry penned the screenplay for the movie that is currently being financed independently, though arthouse power players Focus Features are eyeing getting involved. And even more, should everything come through, production would get under way in early 2013, the same timeframe “Joplin” is looking to start lensing.
However, both directors are currently busy. Daniels is in post-production on his ensemble historical piece “The Butler” for The Weinstein Company while Durkin is just getting started on production on his Brit TV series “Southcliffe.” However, what may mark a key difference between the two movies is that Durkin’s has the rights to the songs by Janis Joplin and Big Brother And The Holding Company. And we presume this means ‘Get It’ doesn’t (or maybe has limited access).
Of course, this isn’t the first biopic showdown, with duel Jeff Buckley flicks at one point going head-to-head until the Penn Badgley starring “Greetings From Tim Buckley” (ironically, the one that didn’t have rights to the songs) got out of the gate first and premiered at TIFF, while the “official” movie starts over with a new director.
But who do you see playing Joplin? Is Adams too big of a name? Who will do her rough and tumble life better justice, Durkin or Daniels? We’ll soon see. [THR]