Former music video director Floria Sigismond’s biopic of the ’70s L.A.-based all girl band, eponymously titled “The Runaways” is essentially done its principal casting.
Kristen Stewart is obviously playing guitarist Joan Jett, Dakota Fanning is playing lead singer Cherie Currie, lesser-known actress Stella Maeve is playing original drummer Sandy West, and Michael Shannon will play their infamous scumbag manager/producer Kim Fowley.
Now the last major pieces of the puzzle has been set. Relatively unknown 22-year old Alessandra Torresani (mostly known for TV work) has been cast as lead guitarist Lita Ford according to MTV. “She’s the most incredible woman. I’m getting to meet her very soon, so that’ll be amazing. I’ll get to hear all her old stories,” Torresani said of the teased-hair female rock icon.
While there were other Runaways — Micki Steele, Peggy Foster, Jackie Fox, Vickie Blue, Laurie McAllister were all members of the short-lived group at one point — the core of Currie, Ford, West and Jett is really the only Runaways anyone cares to remember.
Shooting is happening fast and the band only have a week to rehearse. “I haven’t met any of the girls yet. I’ll meet them soon. I see them tomorrow, so that’s soon enough,” she grinned. “I can fake [the guitar]. I can rock out. I’m a dancer, so I’ll fake it.”
See you in 2010, ‘Runaways’ biopic. Hopefully you’re much more worthwhile then the Germs biopic from a similar late 70s time period in L.A. which was pretty unremarkable in every way.