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November 13, 2008

Casting Couch: Jerry Garcia

Hollywood has finally decided it's time to turn on its lovelight and let it shine on Jerry (requisite lyric-biting intro sentence). According to reports, producers Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, and Eric Eisner have signed on to a biopic that'll explore the pie-eyed piper's roots, meaning no sad concluding chapter on the (extreme) burn-out, singing-from-a-teleprompter years. Via Hollywood Reporter:

The untitled project will focus primarily on Garcia's early life in the Bay Area before he joined the band that would become the Grateful Dead -- a period that includes a stint in the military, a life-changing car accident and his first creative encounters with members of the Northern California music scene including future Dead bassist Phil Lesh.

The movie will pull from Robert Greenfield's book Dark Star, already has a screenwriter (Topper Lilien) ... now it just needs a Jerry. Which is where we come in. Remember it's young Garcia we're casting. This won't be a throwaway project -- producers Berger and Yexa count Election and Little Miss Sunshine among their credits -- so in casting actors, aim high. Jerry would want it that way.


[Photo via coopercharged.com]

Posted at 12:02 PM by amrit in
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16 Comments

Larry Dickman

I hope they write in at least one scene where he pulls a sink from a wall.

Posted by: Larry Dickman profile link at 11/13/08 12:16 PM | Reply
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Excited to see this. The hippie lifestyle made it easy to under appreciate how good Jerry really was. His back story is also surprisingly interesting.

By the way, "Lovelight" was an old blues standard, not a Dead original, and Jerry never sang that one (it was the signature song for original lead singer Pigpen).

Posted by: Stranger Jay at 11/13/08 12:27 PM | Reply
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"a stint in the military, a life-changing car accident and his first creative encounters"..... It sounds really interesting!!! Do you know when it´s due to be released? I´m away from home just now so I´ll hopefully catch it on video when I get back! Monika

Posted by: Monika Dramen at 11/13/08 12:33 PM | Reply
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Biopics are almost always useless. But if there must be one then "Fear and Loathing" and "Holy Mountain" should be the model. Maybe one of "the plots" anchors should be Jerry spending years trying to make a movie version of "Sirens of Titan". (Admirable attempt Mr Kaufman.Serious balls.) I can't keep doing this for free...

Posted by: Anthem of the Sun at 11/13/08 12:56 PM | Reply
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Larry Dickman

I've given it some thought and I think that Paul Giamatti can do it. He's gotta keep the beard on at all times though.

Posted by: Larry Dickman profile link at 11/13/08 12:57 PM | Reply
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I was actually thinking the same thing. He might be a little too old, though.

Posted by: FSF in reply to Larry Dickman's comment at 11/13/08 1:03 PM | Reply
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Larry Dickman

You're probably right. Remember the guy who played Al Swearengen's right hand man in Deadwood? His name is W. Earl Brown and he might be a good choice. He played Warren the retard in Something About Marry so we know he's got range. Could be his breakout role.

Posted by: Larry Dickman profile link in reply to FSF's comment at 11/13/08 1:14 PM | Reply
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two words... gilbert godfried.

Posted by: brent at 11/13/08 1:00 PM | Reply
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jonah hill

Posted by: eric at 11/13/08 1:39 PM | Reply
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Kyp Malone?

Posted by: matt at 11/13/08 1:57 PM | Reply
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Efrim from Silver Mt. Zion... does he act?

Posted by: ddd at 11/13/08 3:17 PM | Reply
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Might I recommend a talented youngster named Cisco Adler? Perfect for this role!

Posted by: Old Man Rock at 11/13/08 4:21 PM | Reply
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Surj Tankian? He did a video about playing all the parts on his album, i think he can act.

Posted by: Manny at 11/13/08 9:02 PM | Reply
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Judd Apatow

Posted by: Nate Larkin-Connolly at 11/14/08 1:08 PM | Reply
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If Hurley from Lost can't do it, then my uncle will.

Unc
http://gallery.me.com/firstwiz/100002/IMG_1558/web.jpg
Jerry
http://www.urbanimage.tv/watermarked/b2c001_ab_y.jpg

Posted by: barry at 11/14/08 3:22 PM | Reply
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Jack Black

Posted by: Retrosonic at 12/23/08 2:12 AM | Reply
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