Thanks in part to consistent work – including his recent role as Sam “Falcon” Wilson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier – Anthony Mackie is in demand at the moment. It appears he may finally get to realise an ambition and play Jimi Hendrix on the big screen, as Ol Parker has come aboard to direct **Jimi.
The film, once called Crosstown Traffic, was set up a few years ago with Paul Greengrass interested in directing Mackie in a story about the last nine days of the legendary rock star’s life. Back then, the Hendrix estate objected to his portrayal, and the project fell apart. Now, with Parker aboard and the issues seemingly worked out, the renamed Jimi should be gearing up to shoot this year.
**The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel **director Parker has his wife, actress Thandie Newton, ready to co-star and has approached Noomi Rapace about playing the rocker’s ex-girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham. This is not the only Hendrix film out there: John Ridley has written and directed Jimi: All Is By My Side, which stars Andre Benjamin as the main man and is set to arrive here on August 8.
As for Mackie, he’s also worked on Shelter and A Many Splintered Thing, with John Hillcoat’s Triple Nine and Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jonathan Levine’s new untitled Christmas movie in his future.