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Casting the Kurt Cobain Biopic: Finding Fitting Actors to Play Axl Rose, Dave Grohl

1/14/08, 5:48 pm EST

Pre-production is underway for Heavier Than Heaven, a biopic about Kurt Cobain based on the Charles Cross biography of the same name. Courtney Love reportedly wants Ryan Gosling to play Cobain and Scarlett Johansson to play her. That’s all well and good, but who will join the all-important supporting cast? Check out Rock Daily’s fantasy casting choices after the jump.

Justin Long as Krist Noveselic: He’s got the right look and the slightly stoned demeanor, though he’s probably not tall enough to play Krist. Still, he could turn it into a franchise for when the Sweet 75 biopic is made.

Topher Grace as Dave Grohl: Grace oozes amiability, but also proved in Spider-Man 3 that he has a dark side—perhaps dark enough to hit the drums really hard.

Cate Blanchett as Eric Erlandson: Blanchett already proved she could play an esoteric male guitarist in I’m Not There, so her transition to playing Courtney’s sideman would be very smooth indeed.

Jake Gyllenhaal as Axl Rose: The key scene in any Cobain-related movie would have to be the confrontation between Kurt and Axl at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Who better to play Mr. Brownstone than Jake?

Jack Black as King Buzzo: Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins was an early Cobain mentor, and his wild-haired, metal-kissed mania would be accurately recreated by one half of Tenacious D.

Emile Hirsch as Eddie Vedder: Because they’ve been photographed together so often, can you even tell them apart anymore?

Toni Collette as Kim Gordon: Sonic Youth provided Kurt with guidance on signing a record deal. Sure, Collette is Australian, but her sometimes ethereal presence matches Gordon’s New England spirit perfectly.

Ron Jeremy as Tad Doyle: Early Nirvana tourmates TAD were fronted by the 300-pound Doyle, who was once described as “a human vomitron.” Is there anybody who can nail repulsive better than Jeremy?


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Comments

laufey | 10/20/2008, 7:13 pm EST

I didn’t know that when I wrote that but i know now :D :D but River looks like Kurt
River was also very handsome :D

JJ | 10/20/2008, 6:59 pm EST

Last time I checked, River Phoenix is as dead as Kurt Cobain.

laufey | 10/17/2008, 8:24 pm EST

I think that joe anderson or river phoenix should play kurt cobain and that eric stoltz should play axl rose

Shawn | 8/14/2008, 2:25 pm EST

Haha Justin Long as Noveselic? There’s a foot of height between them! phhst!

IMNoTBLINd | 5/26/2008, 4:21 pm EST

NO waY!!!they are making the same mistake as Gus van SAnt had made by picking Michael Pitt for Last Days…JOE ANDERSON!!!!!! JOE ANDERSON!!!JOEEEEee!!!ARE YOU BLIND PEOPLE (COURTNEY)? ? ? JOE ANDERSON IS KURT!!!!! ;) ^ ^

Joan | 4/19/2008, 4:06 pm EST

Joe Anderson. He’s totally give out the Cobain vibe, has a moody look about him. He acts well, sings well, plays bass guitar - in movie Control, the casts of the band performed the music for the film; in his new film 27 Clubs, his character is also a bass guitarist. He’s almost getting typecasted as musician. But he’s perfect as Kurt Cobain. If only Courtney can get over that he is not that famous. Courtney only wants famous actors to make sure she makes $ off this film.

Jackie | 4/4/2008, 1:27 pm EST

JOE ANDERSON HAS TO PLAY HIM!!!!

And Maggie Gyllenhaal as Courtney.

Heavier than Heaven was a great book up until the fabricated ending, so I’m sure the movie will be great with the right people - but of course it’s going to end in suicide, and it won’t be anything Frances can watch, and then one day Courtney will go to jail for murder and they’ll have to do it all over again.

:)

.. | 4/2/2008, 12:00 am EST

I don’t want the money going to Courtney.

daniela | 4/1/2008, 2:53 pm EST

joe anderson as kurt cobain! why dont they see the major resemblance in appearance and voice. theyre identical. ryan gosling doesnt look like him for shit. i think anderson also has the same chin indent

loser | 3/17/2008, 7:10 pm EST

what bout his parents they are major characters in who he is

Daz | 3/2/2008, 10:42 am EST

Jack Black as buzz now thats funny shit.

kris | 3/2/2008, 10:38 am EST

Jared Leto should be playing Kurt No Question!.

Brooke | 2/25/2008, 12:38 am EST

I won’t watch the movie unless Joe Anderson plays Kurt Cobain…not that anyone cares :)

Also..you know, this may sound crazy..and I’m sure it won’t happen..but I think Scarlett would play a good Courtney..after some ugly makeup of course..( they kinda have the same lips)ya know? Anyway..the point is..

JOE ANDERSON!!!

Anonymous | 2/23/2008, 3:06 pm EST

youve gotta be kidding me. that Ryan Gosling looks nothing like cobain. what a joke. i heard hes 6 foot 2. really close to cobains 5′7

michelle rose | 2/20/2008, 9:46 am EST

cuantas comparaciones plaese axl the best pero cada uno opina lo que quiera bue es asi nomas soy de argentina y apoyo todo lo q este mejor para la peli de kurt covain y axl saludos a todos

Lillie | 2/19/2008, 8:35 pm EST

British actor Joe Anderson would be a fantastic Kurt. He’s able to sing, he looks just like him [to the point where it’s almost scary sometimes] and is very charismatic on screen.

me | 2/13/2008, 10:53 pm EST

happy birthday kurt

Childhood fan of the band | 2/12/2008, 4:01 pm EST

Joe Anderson from Across the Universe seemed to have a dynamic and raspy enough a voice to play Kurt. Also, from that movie he seemed to be committed enough to his roles to really fully involve his body in the acting. Which is of total concern considering Cobain’s timidness as well as his ability to stand up in the crowd.

Kurt said that Courtney reminded him of Nancy Spungeon. I think in casting her that should probably just be a main factor. But you can’t duplicate Courtney love, there is gonna be a hefty weight on whoever plays her.

It’s also important to mention that Nirvana were a band that never really looked their age. They looked considerably older. When you open the Nevermind sleeve, those guys didn’t look like they were in their twenties. They had wrinkles and they looked messy because they all had all been through the underground shitter to get where they are.

Alex | 2/11/2008, 10:28 pm EST

Kurt- Joe Anderson

Dave- Tom Green

Krist Justin Long

Alex | 2/11/2008, 10:27 pm EST

Kurt- Joe Anderson(”Max” Across the Universe)

Dave- Tom Green

Krist- Justin Long

C a r r i e | 2/10/2008, 5:40 pm EST

AXL IS THE BEST

sweetas | 2/7/2008, 11:16 pm EST

no one can be axl!

AXL ROSE?? | 2/6/2008, 9:30 am EST

Why not ask Axl who he prefers to play him?

KabhiA | 2/2/2008, 2:08 am EST

Scarlet cant play Courtney scarlet is beautiful…courtney not and AXl is perfect.

Santa Claws | 1/26/2008, 6:54 pm EST

Alright, check this out…
What if Kurt Cobain were played by Eminem and have Courtney Love being played by Britney Murphy.
Then title the film “12-Gauge Mile”

Azai' | 1/24/2008, 8:13 am EST

Here’s an idea Axl Rose can play I dunno…..Axl Rose!!!

JGissexy | 1/19/2008, 1:55 am EST

NY Johnny you sound like an idiot.

erick | 1/17/2008, 6:23 pm EST

Axl Rose was every bit important in kurt’s life.. It was the biggest rock star at the time axl rose being challenged by new comer kurt cobain… its not just the mtv thing it was multiple stabs at each other, axl asked kurt to open up for them on the illusions tour he turned it down, in dont’t cry video by gnr there is a hat next to axl while laying on a chair that says nirvana. kurt telling kurt loder of mtv bad stuff about axl.. but i favor axl over kurt anyways, kurt thought he was kool when all he did was kill metal! which is sad like punk did at one time and just as the slogan goes, “punk is dead” so is grunge . im waiting for the t-shirts to be made. all they were all those seatle kids were drugies that died atleast real rockers like james, ozzy, nikki or slash wieghed it through.. but whatever it was realy the media that put it wing over that crap sadly. but grunge is dead thank GOD..Axl wrote epics, wrote melodic and heavy songs, he was such an entertainer, and yeah he had an ago so what! thats what u are when ur a rock star.. u should act big, as kanye sings, u should be honored by my lateness…

? | 1/17/2008, 3:44 am EST

In what way would the 1992 vma fight with Axl Rose be a focal point of any Kurt Cobain movie? That’s a ridiculous statement.

Kool Aid Man | 1/16/2008, 8:55 am EST

OH PLEASE, IF THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN, LET THEM CAST SCOTT WEILAND TO PLAY AXL

Anonymous | 1/15/2008, 5:23 pm EST

I think everyone is too concerned about who looks or acts the part, but really it should be about fiding the BEST actors. Personally, I think Scarlett and Ryan are two of Hollywood’s finest. They would definitely nail whatever role they are cast for, so I hope to see them in this movie.

Casual Observer | 1/15/2008, 3:35 pm EST

Horrible choices all around.
Leave this project alone.

Grungtastic | 1/15/2008, 3:07 pm EST

Ron Jeremy as Tad = Brilliant. Has anybody heard about the TAD Documentary DVD? I saw a trailer on Youtube.

Keith Talent | 1/15/2008, 2:31 pm EST

So far as Kurt goes, Courtney had touted Ewan McGregor a few years back so far as I cna recall but he’s ten years too old (he did a pretty good proxy-Cobain in ‘Velvet Goldmine’ at the very end after doing a good proxy Iggy Pop so we’ll have to dream on that one)…Jame McAvoy possibly, still perhaps not quite intense enough in terms of screen presence yet…Ryan Gosling I don’t favour much…Johnny Depp’s too old, River Phoenix too dead, the guy from ‘Last Days’ too anonymous and typecast…

Digressing quite a bit,if there was ever a film to be made about Captain Beefheart however,I think it could ONLY be Johnny Depp

Manny | 1/15/2008, 1:43 pm EST

how bout Donal Logue as Axl? remember his turn as Jimmy the cabdriver? he could pull it off

NY Johnny | 1/15/2008, 12:28 pm EST

Jake Gyllenhall looks like a horse with Down Syndrome…maybe he should play Grohl?

Sanchez | 1/15/2008, 8:31 am EST

Eric Stoltz as Axl.

Thunder maniac | 1/15/2008, 7:17 am EST

Don’t know why, but each time I see Kiefer Sutherland, I think of Axl Rose… so, Kiefer should play Axl!

Jack Crack | 1/15/2008, 6:32 am EST

Britney Spears would be a perfect Axl Rose.

manfred mann | 1/15/2008, 4:52 am EST

or kurt cobain’s rotting corpse as phil spector

manfred mann | 1/15/2008, 4:51 am EST

phil spector as kurt cobain’s rotting corpse

rayanne | 1/15/2008, 4:33 am EST

MY GOD

JAMES MCAVOY = KURT COBAIN

kate nash' twin sister | 1/15/2008, 3:10 am EST

22 | 1/15/2008, 12:22 am EST

“Viggo Mortensen would be a good pick for KC if Viggo was a bit younger…”

Viggo Mortensen for that straw-haired take the easy way out leave your daughter without a father overrated ass wipe? LOL!

jakobi | 1/15/2008, 1:41 am EST

I love how Courtney wants Scarlett Johanssen to play her! Don’t flatter yourself bitch!

22 | 1/15/2008, 12:22 am EST

Viggo Mortensen would be a good pick for KC if Viggo was a bit younger…

Anonymous | 1/14/2008, 11:27 pm EST

Brad pitt with long red hair could be Axl

Ian | 1/14/2008, 10:39 pm EST

Johnny Depp would have killed that role. And he’s already singin in his new movie. Perfect fit.

Eddie Vedder? | 1/14/2008, 9:36 pm EST

Carrot Top

spencer | 1/14/2008, 9:26 pm EST

scarlett johanssen? is she delirious? amy winehouse, on the other hand, would be a better choice. they have a lot more in common.

Rob | 1/14/2008, 8:10 pm EST

Rolling Stone - I hope you are kidding. You all are kidding right?

Jack | 1/14/2008, 7:52 pm EST

Choices for Cobain

Billy Crudup

Peter Sarsgaard

Johnny Depp

or

resurrect River Phoenix

Jack | 1/14/2008, 7:49 pm EST

Chris Marquette as Dave Grohl

Paul Dano as Krist Noveselic

sperk | 1/14/2008, 7:46 pm EST

Billy Crudup should play KC - hasn’t CL seen Jesus’ Son?

Green Day Packers | 1/14/2008, 7:02 pm EST

Why not cast Whoopi Goldberg as Courtney Love?,she could wear a blonde wig. Courtney has complete creative control of this movie,so I`m sure Courtney will be cast as a supportive, wonderful wife, who only wanted the best things for Kurt. She`s a living saint.

Phantom Of The Paradise | 1/14/2008, 6:38 pm EST

Owen Wilson would make a perfect Kurt Cobain and who can play Axl Rose . . . maybe Danny Bonaduce.

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