Anthony Mackie to Finally Play Jimi Hendrix in Long-Developing Biopic

Heard any good buzz about Andre Benjamin's Jimi Hendrix biopic, All Is By My Side? Probably not, and a big part of the reason, besides his shaky performance, is that it doesn't feature any of the legendary musician's actual music. Kind of a drag. Paul Greengrass ran into similar issues a few years ago when developing Jimi, a film that would have starred Anthony Mackie as Hendrix. The Hendrix Estate squashed that film, but apparently any problems they had are gone because the film is back on.

Mackie will finally get to play Jimi Hendrix, only now it will be Ol Parker directing from his own screenplay. The story is said to recount the final nine days in Hendrix's life. Thandie Newton will play Hendrix's wife, with Noomi Rapace sought to possibly play his ex-girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham. Presumably there will also be someone to play Monika Dannemann, his girlfriend at the time of his death in 1970.

One would think if the project is moving again that rights to Hendrix's music have been secured, but so far there's no confirmation on that or a start date. [TheWrap]