Remember that film about The Beatles‘ label Apple Records produced by Liam Gallagher that won’t feature any Beatles’ characters or music? Yeah, neither did we but the outspoken former frontman of Oasis has now brought the project back into the media spotlight by revealing that he’s eyeing Johnny Depp for the key role of journalist-writer-publicist Derek Taylor.
Speaking with Q Magazine, Gallagher noted that he wants “Depp to play Derek Taylor. It’s got Johnny Depp written all over it, man.” While it sounds like nothing more than a far off pipedream, the two are actually acquaintances with the actor having played slide guitar on Oasis’ song “Fade In-Out” from their 1997 album, Be Here Now. In his typical style, Gallagher hinted that the role was one of substance describing Taylor as “a dude. He’s up there with Lennon.” OK, then.
An adaptation of Richard DiLello‘s novel of the same name, the film follows the story of an American teenager hired as Apple Records’ “house hippie” who eventually moved his way up to being director of public relations. We’re envisioning something along the lines of Cameron Crowe‘s “Almost Famous” rather than any Beatles-based films like “Backbeat” or “Nowhere Boy.”
With no Beatles music featured, don’t even expect any of their music to find its way onto the soundtrack CD either with Gallagher already revealing that his new band, Beady Eye, will be writing and aiming to “create that [era’s] sound.” Last we heard, producer Andrew Eaton was also in talks with Apple Records, presumably for music rights to its catalog of artists such as Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Billy Preston and Badfinger.
It doesn’t sound like the project is even close to fruition just yet but the source material does definitely have potential — especially if a decent helmer comes on board. In the mean time, Gallagher’s infrequent hyping will be the only source of news from the adaptation. “The film script is done,” he concludes. “It’s gonna blow people’s minds, man. I’m just waiting to find out when we choose the actors.” [via AFP]