ROTTEN TOMATOES: Smells Like a Cobain Biopic

Smells Like a Cobain Biopic

Benioff bringing Nirvana frontman's story to the screen.

by Jeff Giles | October 19, 2007

Nearly fifteen years after he ended it, Kurt Cobain's life is beginning its journey to theaters.

Variety reports that Universal Pictures has hired David Benioff to adapt Heavier Than Heaven, the Cobain biography written by Charles Cross. The as-yet untitled biopic will be co-produced by Working Title and Ben Silverman's Reveille imprint, with Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, taking an executive production credit with her lawyer, Howard Weitzman.

The article says it's unclear whether the studio has acquired music rights for the picture, but Cobain's last albums were released on Geffen, a Universal Music Group label, so in theory, that shouldn't be a point of concern. Variety also says the producers and studio haven't commented on "the nature of the story they are trying to tell," but with Love's involvement, it seems a safe bet that the film will err on the positive side. From the article:

Cobain formed Nirvana in 1987 with bassis Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl, the latter of whom now fronts the Foo Fighters. Led by Cobain's growling delivery, inventive guitar work and lyrics that appealed to a disaffected young generation, Nirvana ushered in the Seattle grunge music movement in the early '90s with hits like "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Cobain's life was marked by depression and drug use, and he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1994, leaving behind his wife and a daughter.

These are busy days for Benioff -- he wrote The Kite Runner, in theaters this fall, as well as X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Jim Sheridan's Brothers. One problem Benioff's script can't address, however, is who to cast as Cobain. Cast your votes here, RT faithful!

Source: Variety

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(1-20 of 43 posts) | Reply

JpPrewitt789 writes:
on Oct 19 2007 05:25 AM

I don't know if I want Courtney involved she does probably know him better than anyone else alive but she's still creepy.

(Reply to this)

simplekindoflovely writes:
on Oct 19 2007 05:42 AM

If they do go ahead with this (it was inevitable), they HAVE to hire Joe Anderson to play Cobain. Watching "Across the Universe", nearly everyone at all three showings I've attended mentioned that he looked and sounded exactly like Cobain.

It's really an uncanny resemblance.

(Reply to this)

Lobster Rodeo writes:
on Oct 19 2007 06:21 AM

8 years ago I would have suggested Ewan MacGregor (re - Velvet Goldmine), but even now is too early for a Kurt Cobain flick. Though evidently not for his widow, does she get to play herself?

WTF is it with biopics anyway; Deb Harry's got Kirsten Dunst (file down those incisors) and the genre is so stale its got a parody on the way, which I anticipate more than all the upcoming biopics combined. Except that "Cadillac Men" Chess records flick; that could do for the Mississippi Delta what "24hr Party People" did for Madchester.

(Reply to this)

dahluzz writes:
on Oct 19 2007 07:17 AM

"died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound"?! everyone knows that courtney love killed him and set it up to look like suicide. and then she prevented that nirvana box set from coming out for years. she's a friggin nutcase and will inevitably cause trouble on the set. who can't see courtney showing up drunk and swooning off muscle relaxers shouting out orders because 'she knew him better than anybody.' i hate you, coutney love. but, since this going to happen anyway, i guess they should just get heath ledger or something and make him look all strung out. nirvana = best ban of the 90's.

(Reply to this)

Vega-Star writes:
on Oct 19 2007 07:53 AM

that's funny how you just said Ledger, i was about to suggest Gyllenhaal. Casey Affleck would probably do ok...

(Reply to this)

A Lapse In Reason writes:
on Oct 19 2007 08:23 AM

Casey Affleck would NEVER work as Cobain. I say get a no name to play him.

(Reply to this)

Pongo writes:
on Oct 19 2007 09:02 AM

"Cobain formed Nirvana in 1987 with bassis Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl, the latter of whom now fronts the Foo Fighters."

Didn't Grohl only join the band in like 1990? This biopic already sucks.

(Reply to this)

jeremyd4 writes:
on Oct 19 2007 09:03 AM

karl urban

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Oct 19 2007 09:26 AM

I like Casey Affleck, but he would be so wrong for Cobain. And Ledger would be a good choice.

(Reply to this)

Jdchristensen writes:
on Oct 19 2007 09:34 AM

I hope they include the investigations about whether or not it was murder in the movie.

(Reply to this)

Vortex&Vertigo writes:
on Oct 19 2007 09:56 AM

Courtney Love producing?. Smells like trouble.

(Reply to this)

travis_blum writes:
on Oct 19 2007 11:43 AM

The dude that played Max in Across The Universe should totally play Kurt. That would be ****ing awesome!

Travis

(Reply to this)

bigpk writes:
on Oct 19 2007 11:57 AM

I think it will be brad pitt. He was on a magazine cover a few years back with long hair in the water. Even courtney said he looked so much like Kurdt she wanted to hold him so she could hold kurdt one last time.
And with little makeup I think it would work for sure.

(Reply to this)

Daniel Aaron writes:
on Oct 19 2007 12:01 PM

if they have any class at all they will do the whole film about forming the garage band now know as nirvana and focus all their energy on the joys of early band life and mabey end it with there first huge show doing Smell's like Teen Spirit and cut to credits explaining the eventual death. Becuase to film that i think is wrong nobody was there when he blew his head off i recall so nobody knows what happened so they should just leave it alone..is anything sacred. What killed Kurt Cobain...MTV killed Curt Kobain and the Seattle scene and any other small pocket of cool sounds it desends upon

(Reply to this)

cmonsteve writes:
on Oct 19 2007 12:39 PM

In reply to this comment (#1203023)
exactly, i don't think that grohl even played on "bleach"

didn't gus van sant already do a biopic on cobain? besides nirvana lasted what, like 5 years. do a movie about mike watt or ian mckaye, now i might go see a movie about one of those. (however i'd be the only one...)

(Reply to this)

yowazup13 writes:
on Oct 19 2007 12:53 PM

I don't think Cobain would have wanted this made. I think Love knows that. His words are enough to make his statement. He doesn't need some mainstream movie made by others to deliver his statement to the next generation.

(Reply to this)

sativajosh writes:
on Oct 19 2007 01:32 PM

about a year ago courtney love said she would like ewan macgregor to play curt in a biopic, whether they will go with him who knows, i think he could work in the role

(Reply to this)

Paul_Is_Drunk writes:
on Oct 19 2007 01:54 PM

Courtney Love had only known Kurt for 2-3 years before he died, and she inherited all his estate. She probably knew him less than most of his bandmates, was definitely a negative influence, and is currently selling all Kurt Cobain rights in **** like dolls and television commercials.

How can anyone think this is anything but a quick ploy to make more money of off Kurt?

(Reply to this)

Paul_Is_Drunk writes:
on Oct 19 2007 01:57 PM

Just read the Brad Pitt thing.

You know, I've seen a few photos of the two with long hair and had them confused. It works under certain conditions, but the only problem is that Kurt is 5'7" and Brad is something like 6'1". (Throwing my two cents in seeing as this is going to be made anyway).

(Reply to this)

mouse_clicker writes:
on Oct 19 2007 02:31 PM

Hey, this is going to make an interesting movie! Junkie makes boring music, dates crazy whore, then kills himself! A lot of worth in that.

Stupid Hollywood.

(Reply to this)

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