Caustic, insightful comedian Bill Hicks left a hell of a legacy, dying of cancer far too young in 1994. His life and career were chronicled in documentary American: The Bill Hicks Story, but now Everybody Wants Some!!'s Richard Linklater is looking to develop, write and direct an as-yet untitled film based on the man's life.
Linklater is an avowed fan of Hicks, and shares a similar Southern Baptist upbringing. It's one of his deep regrets that they never got to collaborate, so this appears to be the writer/director's way of honouring Hicks.
"There’s not quite any others like him. They don’t speak in the same voice. You’d think people would take that torch and go with it, but it’s a rare combination of that kind of intelligence, mysticism, political, you know… his politics, his angle, it’s pretty unique," Linklater said in a tribute video tied to the release of American. "I go through my life all the time… everything that’s going on in our culture, I always think, what would Bill Hicks be doing? You just miss him."
There has been talk of a film about Hicks for years - Russell Crowe was attached to star at least once in the past – but Linklater has yet to reveal specific details of his plans. He has several projects bubbling away and is currently focused on the release of his latest, Where'd You Go, Bernadette, which is scheduled to arrive in US cinemas on 22 March but has no confirmed UK date yet.
Those wanting to catch up with Hicks' style can check out the American trailer below.
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