Gossip Girl Actor To Play Iconic Singer
As is increasingly the way with movie making, there are two films currently in the pipeline to tell the tragic life story of the critically acclaimed singer songwriter. First off the block is the project, 'Greetings From Tim Buckley', ostensibly based on the legacy of Buckley senior which focuses on Jeff's performance at his fathers memorial concert. Today it was announced that Gossip Girl actor Penn Badgley has bagged the coveted role.
This has caused a flurry of interest from fans who had hoped that James Franco would be given the part. In a press release today the production company Smuggler Films (Boy's Dont Cry, Revolutionary Road) stated;
Smuggler Films announced today Penn Badgley will star in the much anticipated film Greetings from Tim Buckley. He will play Tim Buckley’s son Jeff in the first film to be made about the musicians. There has been much speculation regarding the casting of Jeff Buckley as many of Hollywood’s hottest stars were interested in playing one of the most remarkable music artists of his generation. Greetings from Tim Buckley was written by Dan Algrant, Emma Sheanshang and David Brendel and will be directed by Dan Algrant (People I Know, Naked in New York).
Greetings from Tim Buckley follows the true story of the days leading up to Jeff Buckley’s eminent 1991 performance at his father’s tribute concert in St. Ann’s Church. Through a romance with a young woman working at the concert, he comes to understand the father who abandoned him. Culminating in a cathartic performance of his father’s most famous songs, Jeff’s debut stuns the audience and launches his career as one of the greatest young musicians of his time.
Penn Badgley said, "To play a man who was singularly gifted as an artist, greatly misunderstood & mythologized as a human being... It's something very special and sacred. I'm going to give all I can to this project.”
Patrick Milling Smith of Smuggler Films. “In its purest form this is a father and son story, a rite of passage that is made possible by a romantic journey Jeff finds himself on. We see Jeff accepting who he is to become and laying to rest the ghost of his father while ultimately finding his voice.
We had been searching well over a year for an actor that can come close to Jeff’s spirit while also having the serious musical chops required to authentically tell this story."
The other film currently in the works is to be directed by Jake Scott (son of Ridley) and produced by Buckley's mother. As such it's probably the more eagerly awaited of the two films. Scott's treatment promises to tell the story of his life and short career, rather than focusing on one particular moment.
This has caused a flurry of interest from fans who had hoped that James Franco would be given the part. In a press release today the production company Smuggler Films (Boy's Dont Cry, Revolutionary Road) stated;
Smuggler Films announced today Penn Badgley will star in the much anticipated film Greetings from Tim Buckley. He will play Tim Buckley’s son Jeff in the first film to be made about the musicians. There has been much speculation regarding the casting of Jeff Buckley as many of Hollywood’s hottest stars were interested in playing one of the most remarkable music artists of his generation. Greetings from Tim Buckley was written by Dan Algrant, Emma Sheanshang and David Brendel and will be directed by Dan Algrant (People I Know, Naked in New York).
Greetings from Tim Buckley follows the true story of the days leading up to Jeff Buckley’s eminent 1991 performance at his father’s tribute concert in St. Ann’s Church. Through a romance with a young woman working at the concert, he comes to understand the father who abandoned him. Culminating in a cathartic performance of his father’s most famous songs, Jeff’s debut stuns the audience and launches his career as one of the greatest young musicians of his time.
Penn Badgley said, "To play a man who was singularly gifted as an artist, greatly misunderstood & mythologized as a human being... It's something very special and sacred. I'm going to give all I can to this project.”
Patrick Milling Smith of Smuggler Films. “In its purest form this is a father and son story, a rite of passage that is made possible by a romantic journey Jeff finds himself on. We see Jeff accepting who he is to become and laying to rest the ghost of his father while ultimately finding his voice.
We had been searching well over a year for an actor that can come close to Jeff’s spirit while also having the serious musical chops required to authentically tell this story."
The other film currently in the works is to be directed by Jake Scott (son of Ridley) and produced by Buckley's mother. As such it's probably the more eagerly awaited of the two films. Scott's treatment promises to tell the story of his life and short career, rather than focusing on one particular moment.
Jeff Buckley
