Kinks Biopic You Really Got Me Gets Stars, Director
We’re nearing an age when just about every legendary musical figure gets a biopic, and the Kinks appear to be next in line. The drama You Really Got Me is set to start filming in the UK later this year, and it’ll focus on the tempestuous relationship between Ray Davies and his brother Dave. And the movie now has a director and a couple of leads on board.
Screen Daily reports that Julien Temple, who made the Sex Pistols movie The Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Swindle and the afternoon-cable classic Earth Girls Are Easy, is on board to direct. His daughter Juno will play Ray’s ex-wife Raza. Johnny Flynn will play Ray, but this is not the former Syracuse point guard who got drafted ahead of Stephen Curry. That would be really interesting! Instead, this Johnny Flynn is an English singer-songwriter who’s done some acting in British films and onstage. George Mackay, who starred in a Proclaimers musical called Sunshine On Earth, will play Dave.
The filmmakers have the rights to the Kinks’ music, and both Ray and Dave will work on the soundtrack. Temple says, “This is an exciting chance to tell The Kinks story in a visceral and real way. The lyrics of The Kinks have always been fascinating to me and there is an amazing human story here as well which has yet to be captured on film. It’s not easy to find British leading men who can deliver the kind of musically compelling performances we need and we have those in Johnny and George.”