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November 15, 2006

Casting Couch: Brian Wilson

Good news, Beach Boys lovers! Variety reports that a biopic is officially in the works for the troubled life and times of the great Brian Wilson. As with any musician biopic, securing the rights to the tunes is paramount -- but Brian is on board. The film is gonna tackle every aspect of Wilson's life, from his abusive father, to his genius recording sessions, to his years battling severe depression. Filmmaker David Leaf, who "who chronicled Wilson's creation of the album Smile in his docu Beautiful Dreamer," is involved in the project, ensuring Wilson will be comfy tackling the tough stuff. Says Variety:

As for airing the difficult parts of his life, Wilson said, "It's tough, and when I see the movie I'll be ill at ease at some of the bad parts. But I remember when we made Pet Sounds, and I knew we were up to something spiritual and special. I have that feeling again."
  
The Pet Sounds of biopics? Watch out now. Even if not, it can't be worse than ABC's made-for-tv movie. So, as always, we wanna know: Who do you think should play our beloved Beach Boy? And as a bonus question: What do you think they'll call it? God only knows they'll resort to some lame song title usage.

Posted at 12:15 PM in
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45 Comments

Jared Leto?

Posted by: Scooter at 11/15/06 12:21 PM  | Reply
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Either Adam sandler, Abe Vigoda, Samuel Jackson, Michael Rappaport, Carrot-top, Cate Blanchett (she plated Dylan so..), Charlton Heston, Kyle from Tenacious D, Pierce Bronsnan, Chuck Norris, Tom Selleck, Tom Sizemore, Tom Hanks, Danny Bonnaduce, Dave Chappelle, or Nick Nolte.

Posted by: telex at 11/15/06 12:29 PM  | Reply
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Damn, I was gonna suggest Leto too!

Posted by: Darwin at 11/15/06 12:30 PM  | Reply
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Har Mar.

Posted by: mrbenning at 11/15/06 12:32 PM  | Reply
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Either Adam sandler, Abe Vigoda, Samuel Jackson, Michael Rappaport, Carrot-top, Cate Blanchett (she plated Dylan so..), Charlton Heston, Kyle from Tenacious D, Pierce Bronsnan, Chuck Norris, Tom Selleck, Tom Sizemore, Tom Hanks, Danny Bonnaduce, Dave Chappelle, or Nick Nolte.

Posted by: telex at 11/15/06 12:33 PM  | Reply
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Either Adam sandler, Abe Vigoda, Samuel Jackson, Michael Rappaport, Carrot-top, Cate Blanchett (she plated Dylan so..), Charlton Heston, Kyle from Tenacious D, Pierce Bronsnan, Chuck Norris, Tom Selleck, Tom Sizemore, Tom Hanks, Danny Bonnaduce, Dave Chappelle, or Nick Nolte.

Posted by: telex at 11/15/06 12:34 PM  | Reply
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Hurley from Lost, sorry I don't know the actor's name, looks like Brian Wilson back in the 70s when he was essentially on a acid trip for three years and weighed 300 pounds.
As for the name, they could be ironic and call it smile, after his masterpiece of course.

Posted by: ian at 11/15/06 12:36 PM  | Reply
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Ben Gibbard

Posted by: otc at 11/15/06 12:43 PM  | Reply
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Tobey Maguire, of course!

Posted by: r*obox at 11/15/06 12:50 PM  | Reply
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"Good Vibrations" starring that guy from Keane - coming to theaters Christmas 2008.

Posted by: Nate at 11/15/06 12:51 PM  | Reply
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Heroes and Villains.

Posted by: Mark Swiderski at 11/15/06 12:52 PM  | Reply
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"Good Vibrations" starring that guy from Keane - coming to theaters Christmas 2008.

Posted by: Nate at 11/15/06 12:54 PM  | Reply
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Oh, I just know they're going to call it Wouldn't It Be Nice.

Posted by: Ian! at 11/15/06 1:05 PM  | Reply
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Hilary Duff.

Posted by: HeiaVincent at 11/15/06 1:20 PM  | Reply
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haha ian i was thinking the same thing. as for who should play him... hollywood loves if the actor can sing and perform just like the artist instead of lip synch, so uh. that kind of limits things.

Posted by: tobias funke at 11/15/06 1:22 PM  | Reply
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if only jeff bridges were 20 years younger. twould be perfect.

Posted by: tommy moniker at 11/15/06 1:28 PM  | Reply
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The lead singer from Keane. Think it over.

Posted by: John at 11/15/06 1:38 PM  | Reply
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What about Michael Pitt? Add a few pounds to round out the face?

Posted by: Dfactor at 11/15/06 1:38 PM  | Reply
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http://www.virgin.net/music/wallpapers/images/keane_1600.jpg

Here's the lead singer from Keane, for reference.

Posted by: John at 11/15/06 1:39 PM  | Reply
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PETE DOHERTY!!

Posted by: h. bomb at 11/15/06 1:42 PM  | Reply
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I vote for "Wouldn't It Be Nice", too. but, I think they should make it a Broadway-style musical film, and put Catherine Zeta-Jones in it somewhere. Heck, Nathan Lane could play Brian!

Posted by: jon at 11/15/06 1:44 PM  | Reply
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Ok, forget what I said before. The only man on this earth capable of playing Brian Wilson on film:

Ryan Adams.

Posted by: jon at 11/15/06 1:45 PM  | Reply
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John Goodman should play Van Dyke Parks

Posted by: Saul at 11/15/06 2:22 PM  | Reply
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the clear choice is dom delouise. he would really bring life to the roll!

Posted by: mathamatic at 11/15/06 2:30 PM  | Reply
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Seth Rogan? I think that's his name. The guy from Freaks and Geeks, 40 yr old virgin.

Posted by: Eric at 11/15/06 2:36 PM  | Reply
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Phillip Seymour Hoffman. or Jack Black...who does sing,,,, badly

Posted by: howie at 11/15/06 2:52 PM  | Reply
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Is a dude going to have to fly to LA to audition for this? Because I will.

I'm calling the line for the title:

God Only Knows- 2:9
Smile- 1:4
Wouldn't It Be Nice- 1:7

Posted by: JT at 11/15/06 3:03 PM  | Reply
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Is a dude going to have to fly to LA to audition for this? Because I will.

I'm calling the line for the title:

God Only Knows- 2:9
Smile- 1:4
Wouldn't It Be Nice- 1:7

Posted by: JT at 11/15/06 3:03 PM  | Reply
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Wow. Was Jared Leto really that huge?

Posted by: ElWood at 11/15/06 4:05 PM  | Reply
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Wow. Was Jared Leto really that huge?

Posted by: ElWood at 11/15/06 4:10 PM  | Reply
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andy milonakis

Posted by: j at 11/15/06 4:34 PM  | Reply
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I liked that ABC movie! It had the mom from The Wonder Years and when Dennis met the Mansons it got really creepy.

Posted by: mike at 11/15/06 4:37 PM  | Reply
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I just wasn't made for these times 1:2
Surf's up 1:25
Heroes & Villians 2:7
Honkin' Down the Highway 1:1267

Posted by: P at 11/15/06 4:58 PM  | Reply
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Colin Meloy

Posted by: Matt at 11/15/06 5:39 PM  | Reply
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Rainn Wilson.

He's already a Wilson, and he has a double chin.

Posted by: jeff at 11/15/06 5:54 PM  | Reply
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Yer gonna think me craaaaaaaaazy... but I covered this a long time ago


http://ouija-boy.livejournal.com/6422.html


Seriously though.. it works.

Posted by: jason at 11/15/06 7:03 PM  | Reply
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"Life of Brian"

Posted by: eric at 11/15/06 9:03 PM  | Reply
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Josh Hartnett's presence in a Brian Wilson bio-pic would guarantee its suckiness.

Posted by: dane adelman at 11/15/06 10:27 PM  | Reply
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How about Jon Brion? Hmm, maybe even James Franco. Gotta think on this some more.

Posted by: Voxx at 11/16/06 3:03 AM  | Reply
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How about Jon Brion? Hmm, maybe even James Franco. Gotta think on this some more.

Posted by: Voxx at 11/16/06 3:03 AM  | Reply
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Mmmmm... Tom Chaplin from Keane fits. Fresh face, fresh air... heavenly voice !

Posted by: Rosalia at 11/20/06 4:28 PM  | Reply
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Mmmmm... Tom Chaplin from Keane fits. Fresh face, fresh air... heavenly voice !

Posted by: Rosalia at 11/20/06 4:31 PM  | Reply
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Mmmmm... Tom Chaplin from Keane fits. Fresh face, fresh air... heavenly voice !

Posted by: Rosalia at 11/20/06 4:32 PM  | Reply
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I think Toby Maguire would capture Brian's sensitivity and vulnerability perfectly and I think Alec Baldwin would be perfect as Murray Wilson!

Posted by: Merrill Bone at 06/11/07 1:46 AM  | Reply
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The PERFECT choice is Josh Hartnett, He would beautifully capture young Brian's sensitivity, plus he looks like him (yes, Brian is a good looking guy), with his.uncannily similar eyes. I love the choice of Alec Baldwin as Murry, although I was thinking of Alec as an older Brian. Although he has a brutish quality, Alec's a good actor...I bet he could pull it off!!!

Posted by: Susan Harris at 01/05/09 3:52 AM  | Reply
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