Shailene Woodley is set to take on the role of Janis Joplin in a new biopic film project about the iconic musical icon.
There have been several attempts to get a Joplin biopic off the ground for years, but this is the first one that might actually happen. Woodley is not only acting in the film, but she’s also producing.
The film will shoot over 30 days in California and spend about $10 million in “qualified expenditures.” Woodley said in a statement:
“California meant so much to Janis Joplin — from the stoops of San Francisco to the wooden walls of Sunset Sound, the state became the stage upon which she explored not just the world of music, but the world of her vibrant humanity.”
Janis Joplin was born on January 19, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas, and rose to prominence as one of the most influential and iconic rock singers of the 1960s.
She grew up feeling like an outsider due to her unconventional appearance and interests, which led her to the blues and beat poetry. After leaving college, Joplin moved to San Francisco in 1963, becoming part of the city’s burgeoning counterculture scene.
Her powerful, bluesy voice was inspired by legends like Bessie Smith and Lead Belly. Joplin’s big break came when she joined the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1966.
Their performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 catapulted her to stardom, and the band’s album Cheap Thrills (1968) became a massive success, cementing her reputation as a groundbreaking artist.
In 1969, Joplin left Big Brother to pursue a solo career, forming her own backing groups, the Kozmic Blues Band and later the Full Tilt Boogie Band. Her solo albums, including I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! (1969) and Pearl (1971), showcased her versatility and deep emotional connection to her music.
Joplin struggled with substance abuse throughout her career and battled addiction to alcohol and drugs, which ultimately led to her tragic death on October 4, 1970, at the age of 27, from a heroin overdose.
Joplin’s legacy as a trailblazing female rock star endures, and her distinctive voice and emotional performances continue to inspire generations of musicians. Her posthumous album Pearl became one of her most celebrated works.
Source: Variety
