Producers looking to bring some sparkle to their Buckley biopics should look no further than Robert Pattinson, who's apparently desperate to play Jeff Buckley in an in-the-works movie.
"Sources" at the Daily Express have heard that Pattinson "is obsessed with the project and doing everything he can to land the part." The paper says that Pattinson's business team have high hopes that this could be the role to land him an Oscar nomination, and move him onward from his association with a certain Mr Cullen.
Producer Michelle Sy (Finding Neverland) confirms that, "I've met actors who are keen on the part, and Robert was one."
Buckley, son of the legendary Tim, was a rising star, with the critically acclaimed Grace album and a sizeable tour under his belt and second album My Sweetheart the Drunk on the way, before he tragically drowned in 1997. Several subsequent releases of unfinished works cemented his reputation and bolstered his following, and he had a posthumous number one single in 2008 with Leonard Cohen's ubiquitous Hallelujah. Expect it to be a hit again when the Twi-Hards get hold of it (although they might prefer Eternal Life).
The potential film's screenplay is by Ryan Jaffe (The Rocker), and Orian Williams (Control) is co-producing with Sy. Buckley's mother Mary Guibert is also involved as an executive producer, and says, "Robert is a fine young actor. I’m flattered he’s been linked to this project. When the time comes we’ll give everybody an opportunity to be seen and heard.”
Whoever lands the role "must be able to play music and sing, or at least make it believable he can do that, but until we start auditions there’s no way we know who’s best for the part,” Guibert explains.
Pattinson, who's had his own music included on the soundtracks to Twilight and How to Be, must be practising his scales and belting out Forget Her in the shower, but he apparently faces competition from James Marsden, Ryan Gosling, and, of course, James Franco, who's currently attached to every role in Hollywood.
No director is aboard yet, but the producers have an eye on a 2013 release, with shooting possibly taking place next summer.