God bless 30 Rock for creating Jackie Jormp-Jomp as an easy shorthand for musician biopics without the participation of that person’s estate. In the show, Jenna had to play a royalty-free version of Janis Joplin called Jackie Jormp-Jomp. In real life, Outkast’s Andre 3000 is set to play Jimi Hendrix in All is By My Side, which began filming today in Ireland.
Darko Entertainment, Subotica Entertaiment and Matador Pictures are teaming to produce the Jimi Hendrix “All Is By My Side,” the cast of which Imogen Poots (“Fright Night”) has joined.
Also confirmed for the cast are Outkast singer Andre Benjamin, who will play Hendrix, and Hayley Atwell (“Captain America”).
Darko Entertainment is financing the film, which John Ridley will direct from his own original script.
A love story at heart, “All Is By My Side” aims to captures the energy, the charisma and the talent of a music legend whose influence still resonates around the world today. Based on actual interviews and archival materials, pic will poignantly reveal a Jimi Hendrix behind the legend. [Variety]
Of course, there’s just one problem, and I’m guessing you’ve already guessed what it is.
In a statement, Experience Hendrix, LLC, a family-owned entity that manages the rocker’s music and life rights, said that it “has 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.”
The statement goes on to say that a future biopic isn’t out of the question, but from the sound of it won’t likely include Andre 3000. “Experience Hendrix CEO Janie Hendrix, sister of Jimi Hendrix, and the EH board have not ruled out a ‘biopic’ in the future though producing partners would, out of necessity, have to involve the company from the inception of any such film project if it is to include original Jimi Hendrix music or compositions.” [BET]
Oh man, I can’t wait for Jamie Horndrocks to sing Purple Fog and All Along the Water Fountain. I’m actually more interested now than I was before.