Heartland

Joy Division's dark star to shine in biopic cinema
By Louise Jury
19 May 2004

The Manchester music scene of the 1970s and 80s that inspired Michael Winterbottom's film 24 Hour Party People is to spawn a second movie - based on the tragic life of the Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis.

The biopic of the Joy Division star, who committed suicide at his Macclesfield home aged 23, is being developed by Amy Hobby, the American producer of the offbeat black comedy, Secretary, which starred James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhall. Moby will act as music adviser.

Ms Hobby has teamed up with London-based Neal Weisman, who is close to Tony Wilson, the band's manager, and to the surviving members of the band, which became New Order after Curtis's death.

The Winterbottom film told the story of Tony Wilson and his famed label, Factory Records, but also dealt with the story of Curtis's death.

Moby, the New Yorker whose album Play became a number one bestseller worldwide and who is also known for his remix work, has been invited to shape the film's music.

"Ian Curtis was a tragic romantic in the classic sense of the word," Weisman told the trade magazine Variety at the Cannes Film Festival. "He always thought he would be famous as some kind of poet and die by his mid-20s and that's what happened."

Weisman sees the movie as being a rock-and-roll version of the movie, Shine, in which Geoffrey Rush played the pianist David Helfgott whose career was devastated by a struggle against mental illness.

Curtis joined Joy Division after answering an advert in 1976 which asked for a lead vocalist. Their first album, Unknown Pleasures, released on Factory Records, introduced his distinctive voice and bleak, expressive style which became most famous on songs such as "Love Will Tear Us Apart".

By 1979, the band were recording sessions for John Peel's Radio 1 show and were poised to tour America.

But in 1980, he committed suicide the day before they were due to leave for the States. It was thought that this might have been triggered by mis-management of medication for his epilepsy.

A copy of Iggy Pop's The Idiot was found on the turntable at his house alongside a note which read: "At this moment, I wish I were dead. I just can't cope any more."

The film project is still being finalised and is not expected to begin shooting until next year. It is understood no one has yet been cast. In the Winterbottom movie, the singer was played by Sean Harris with the comedian Steve Coogan as Tony Wilson.

ryan_w_0000 wrote:i thought sean harris did a great job on 24. In fact if they dont choose him i think ill be rather dissapointed

Moby...has been invited to shape the film's music.

markfiend wrote: I hate Moby. F*cking corporate ad-music whore.

markfiend wrote:I hate Moby. F*cking corporate ad-music whore.

RicheyJames wrote:

markfiend wrote:I hate Moby. F*cking corporate ad-music whore.

yeah! how dare he make money out of his music...

Sexygoth wrote:That and he's sh*te

markfiend wrote:

Sexygoth wrote:That and he's sh*te

Well, yeah, that too.

Red Sunsets wrote:Baldy!

Debaser wrote:Reckon Rowan Atkinson could do it....hee hee

pikkrong wrote:Or at least thay should ask him to consult on dancing.

markfiend wrote:

Moby...has been invited to shape the film's music.

Errrrrrmmmmmm.....

So why? Why not just use Joy Division's music?

I hate Moby. F*cking corporate ad-music whore.