It's a good while since we last had on update on Dirt Music, the musical drama based on Tim Winton's novel. But the eagle-eared Playlist have picked one up from KCRW's radio show The Treatment, where Salt director Philip Noyce confirms that Dirt Music is still in development, with Russell Crowe firmly attached.
Back in the day, Heath Ledger was announced as on-board to star, shortly before he shot the Dylan mythopic I'm Not There. Later, Colin Farrell was rumoured, but the role of the tragically bereaved Luther Fox, an illegal fisherman in Western-Australia with a liking for the guitar, now seems firmly to be Crowe's, to the extent that he's been writing songs for the film for some time.
Any fans of 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts out there? Thought not. Crowe definitely sounds like a good fit for the role though.
Rachel Weisz was once talked up as Georgie Jutland, the fisher-folk femme fatale who starts to bring Fox back from his isolation (causing him to hear the "dirt music" again), but there's currently no mention of her. No funding for the project either. With a hit in Salt, Noyce seems reasonably confident that he'll finally be allowed to make this next, although it's a very different prospect.
The script is in "good shape", according to screenwriter John Collee, and if all goes to plan, shooting will start next year.