Jeff Buckley Biopic Coming

by Paul Cashmere

June 30 2006

9 years after the death of singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley, a movie is going to be made on his life.

Jeffs mother Mary Guibert says she has been approached almost annually from someone wanting to make a movie about her son and finally decided to give the go-ahead for the project so that she would have some control over the script.

The fact that Jeff is no longer with us means that anyone can make a film or write a book about him without anyone's permission or our participation, which nearly became reality last year she says in a letter to fans at jeffbuckley.com. That fact really got me to the point of re-thinking my stand on the subject. Nine years later, when I looked around, I saw films like "Ray", "The Aviator", "Walk the Line", and "Finding Neverland" making it to the screen. Also, I had to come to the realization that I did not want someone else to be in control of how the script was written and on what information that script was based.

The film is yet to be cast.

The directors job has gone to a young film-maker called Brian Jun, whose film Steel City was screen at Sundance earlier this year.

I can tell Jeff's fans with complete confidence that Brian is not the sort of fellow to sugar-coat or manipulate the facts Mary says. I've looked into his eyes and I know that he's a straight shooter. There's a depth of character to Brian, surprising in someone so young, and I have seen from his film-making that he has the courage and the skill to do this the way it should be done.

WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THIS?

I really think James Franco from Tristan and Isolde, James Dean, Spiderman 1, 2, and 3 should play Jeff. When James hair was longer for his character Tristan I was taken aback at how much he resembled Jeff. As far as his acting skills go he is one of the most talented I have ever seen. For example when he played James Dean it was like he came back from the grave. If he could do that for Jeff I would be stoked and personally he is the only actor talented enough for that part. Jeff deserves the best.

carmaWrote:
I really think James Franco from Tristan and Isolde, James Dean, Spiderman 1, 2, and 3 should play Jeff. When James hair was longer for his character Tristan I was taken aback at how much he resembled Jeff. As far as his acting skills go he is one of the most talented I have ever seen. For example when he played James Dean it was like he came back from the grave. If he could do that for Jeff I would be stoked and personally he is the only actor talented enough for that part. Jeff deserves the best.

this is exactly the same thing i was thinking. James Franco looks a lot like jeff buckley and he's an awesome actor.

YES! james franco would be perfect. the minute i saw him in spiderman i thought jeff buckley.

Krystal wrote:
YES! james franco would be perfect. the minute i saw him in spiderman i thought jeff buckley.

Ditto! Kinda freaky.

This is Jake Newton... he's a singer-songwriter/ actor... what do you think? he also is a fan of Jeff's...

I'm another advocate for James Franco, in the movie Sunny with Mira Sorvino he reminded me of Jeff a lot.
Jake Newton looks alright though, possible, and I've actually heard his name recently, gonna have to listen to him.

I don't think Jake Newton looks a lot like Jeff..the the boy can sing~! Saw Tristan and Isolde last night and just kept thinkin' bout Jeff through the whole thing--James Franco does look a lot like him but don't know if he could sound like him at all/if he is a fan of Jeff at all or if he can sing/play guitar.

Daniel wrote:


i mean come on, the likeness is uncanny...

I agree.

I agree yes he really does resemble Jeff. But I don't think Jeff would want some famous actor to portray him.