Register  |   Log In  |  
Sign up to our weekly newsletter    
Search   
Empire Magazine and iPad
Follow Me on Pinterest
Empire
Trending On Empire
Two free posters with Empire magazine
Subscribe: Get Dead Island: Riptide
Empire's Soundtrack Celebration
90 Years Of Warner Bros.
Your chance to win a Blu-ray every day!
Cannes Film Festival 2013
News, photos and more from the Croisette
Movie News

LATEST HEADLINES
TODAY
Star Trek Into Darkness Spoiler Podcast #2
Damon Lindelof and the rest of the writer/producers speak...
More Movie News

RELATED NEWS
27 March 2012
Zooey Deschanel Will Be About Time
For Richard Curtis' new comedy
More Movie News

RELATED REVIEWS
Your Highness (2011)
Empire Star Rating
Case 39 (2009)
Empire Star Rating
500 Days of Summer (2009)
Empire Star Rating
Gigantic (2009)
Empire Star Rating
Yes Man (2008)
Empire Star Rating
More new cinemas releases
DVD & Blu-ray releases

Zooey Deschanel Is Janis Joplin
In Penelope Spheeris' movie

19 September 2006  |  Written by   |  Source: Variety


The race of the Janis Joplin pics just got more interesting. Now out in front is Penelope “Wayne’s World” Spheeris, who has been trying for a while to put together her version of the singer’s story, The Gospel According To Janis, while competing with Lakeshore Entertainment - itself busily cooking up a Renee Zellweger-starring rival.

The most recent report had singer Pink playing the lead role, but but now Spheeris has officially found her Janis in Zooey Deschanel, who last put her pipes to good use singing in the shower for Elf. She’s spent four months working with a vocal coach to prepare to sing with Joplin’s gritty style. “The dilemma over the years was finding an actress who could sing or a singer who could act,” producer Peter Newman explained to Variety. "Zooey is the first person we found who excels at both.”

And the script has been through several drafts, with the latest penned by Spheeris and David Dalton, a former Rolling Stone journo who accompanied Joplin on a long tour. His story will form the structure of the film, and the producers are now searching for an actor to play him.

Spheeris cranks her cameras this November in Philadelphia, but don’t write off the Lakeshore/Zellweger version just yet – despite having been booted into turnaround by Paramount, the film is being touted to other studios and the script is being rewritten again. It ain’t over until the depressed lady sings, folks.

Have Your Say
To comment on this, and all articles, register for free or login now.

World Exclusive: The New Wall-E Trailer
This kicks shiny metal butt!
America Nabs The Vicar Of Dibley
Fox TV Creating The Minister Of Divine

Your Comments

RE: ...At least it's not Jude Law either
L: Cuchulainn L: matt_cub Zooey's argueably too good looking to play Janis. men are arguably too good looking to play Janis...  sp; Got to agree Joplin was a good few steps away from a looker.  The junkie look didn't help either. More

Posted by sanchia at 19:05 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post

RE: ...At least it's not Jude Law either
L: matt_cub Zooey's argueably too good looking to play Janis. men are arguably too good looking to play Janis...  More

Posted by Cuchulainn at 18:31 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post

Good news
It's always great news when you hear that Zooey's gonna be in anything. More

Posted by c_poynton at 17:24 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post

what about Juliette Lewis!!
Zooey's better i suppose...but what a role to play, i will be there with arms crossed saying 'go on then'...i hope she pulls it off Still think Juliette is the way to go.. More

Posted by nancy102 at 16:41 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post

what about Juliette Lewis!!
Zooey's better i suppose...but what a role to play, i will be there with arms crossed saying 'go on then'...i hope she pulls it off Still think Juliette is the way to go.. More

Posted by nancy102 at 16:40 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post

what about Juliette Lewis!!
Zooey's better i suppose...but what a role to play, i will be there with arms crossed saying 'go on then'...i hope she pulls it off Still think Juliette is the way to go.. More

Posted by nancy102 at 16:40 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post

...At least it's not Jude Law either
Zooey's argueably too good looking to play Janis. More

Posted by matt_cub at 15:19 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post

At least it's not..
..Nicole Kidman!! More

Posted by paulieaton at 11:31 on 19 September 2006 | Report This Post


CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
Cannes Film Festival Videblogisode #3
Featuring Justin Timberlake, Marion Cotillard, Clive Owen and Carey Mulligan!

The Biggest Doctor Who Jaw-Droppers
The Time Lord's biggest surprises over 50 years of TV

Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch: A Beginner's Guide To The Avengers 2 Newcomers
Your primer on the brother and sister joining the A-team

Clint Mansell On Making Requiem For A Dream
'Darren had to edit at night because he could get access to the studio for free then.'

Arrested Development Video Interviews
Say hello to Jeffrey Tambor, David Cross, Tony Hale, Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat

Empire's Favourite Music Moments
From The Pixies to Burt Bacharach via Audioslave

The 20 Soundtracks That Defined The 2000s
The sounds of a dark knight, a mischievous Parisian, a troubled family and one flying house...

Subscribe For Only £20
Get Dead Island: Riptide and six issues of Empire for only £20! Subscribe now
Steven Spielberg iPad App
Hollywood's most beloved director in this unique iPad special. Download now
Empire iPad Edition
The world's biggest movie magazine available on iPad Download now
Home  |  News  |  Blogs  |  Reviews  |  Future Films  |  Features  |  Interviews  |  Images  |  Competitions  |  Forum  |  iPad  |  Podcast  |  Magazine Contact Us  |  Empire FAQ  |  Subscribe To Empire  |  Register
© Bauer Consumer Media  |  Terms And Conditions  |  Our Data Promise To You  |  Bauer Entertainment Network
Bauer Consumer Media. Company number 1176085 (England). Registered Office: 21 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DY