Once upon a time, someone thought a Kurt Cobain biopic about the deceased grunge star would be a good idea.
– In October 2007, script writer, David Benioff (“The 25 Hour,” “Troy,”) is hired to write the screenplay by Universal based on Charles Cross’ book, “Heavier Than Heaven. A girl named Courtney Love is executive producing.
– Days later it is rumored that James McAvoy (“Atonement,” “Wanted”) will play Kurt.
– At the end of October 2007, the documentary, “Kurt Cobain: About A Son,” is released.
– November, 2007: Courtney Love gives the OK for actual Nirvana music to be used in the film. How about that.
– In December 2007, Benioff reveals he’s been given home video footage of Cobain playing with Frances Bean just days before his death. It’s “incredibly sad but also just incredibly revealing,” he said.
– January 2008: Love allegedly wants Scarlett Johansson to play her and Ryan Gosling to play Cobain.
– February 2008: “The Kid Stays In The Picture” director, Brett Morgan, says he’s been given approval to begin on an animated/ mixed media documentary about the Nirvana and the rocker who has shuffled off this mortal coil.
– December 2008: The mass public get to hear Mickey Rourke’s character in “The Wrestler” diss Cobain for his sad-sack music.
– 2005 flashback. Everyone basically forgets Gus Van Sant already made a Kurt Cobain film.
Today’s update: According to Production Weekly’s Twitter feed, German-Swiss director Marc Forster (“Quantum of Solace,” “Monster’s Ball,” “Stranger Than Fiction”) is eyeing the biopic. For his next picture perhaps? Well, “World War-Z” is supposed to be next. Does that mean the screenplay is done? There’s no additional information, but this makes sense. Forster and screenwriter David Benioff already worked together on “The Kite Runner” in 2007. Will it happen? We guess it depends on Forster liking the script and Universal/Love being OK with his concepts. Call it preliminary news for now.