Oren Moverman, Oscar-nominated writer-director of the Woody Harrelson/Ben Foster Iraq War-themed flick, The Messenger, is staying in downbeat land for his next movie – he’s in talks to write and direct Universal/Working Title’s untitled Kurt Cobain biopic.
Cobain, of course, was the tortured genius behind Nirvana who committed suicide by shotgun in April of 1994, several months after the release of their (in this reporter’s opinion) greatest triumph, In Utero. He left behind a widow, Hole’s Courtney Love, a daughter, Frances Bean and bandmates, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, who founded Foo Fighters. His impact on the music world was, and remains, profound.
Since his death, there have been no official Cobain movies - Gus van Sant’s rambling, elliptical Last Days, starring Michael Pitt, was about a thinly-veiled Cobain figure - but Universal and Working Title have been trying to bring Cobain’s story to the big screen since 2007, when they hired David Benioff to adapt Charles R. Cross’ book, Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography Of Kurt Cobain. The companies have also bought the life rights of both Cobain and Courtney Love.
Moverman, who’s still in negotiations, will take a pass at Benioff’s script. Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan will produce, along with Graham Larson. Love will executive produce, which we hope means that this won’t be a whitewash.