There are two kinds of musician biopics: the one where the young talent struggles to the top of the pops, only to succumb to alcohol and/or drug abuse before inspirationally overcoming, and the one where the young talent struggles to the top of the pops, only to succumb to alcohol and/or drug abuse before tragically dying. Now there’s a new kind: the one that makes fun of those.
John C Reilly is going to star in Walk Hard, a musical comedy directed by Jake Kasdan and produced by the King of Hollywood Comedy, Judd Apatow (officially crowned when Talladega Nights had a smash opening). "It’s an idea Jake had after seeing one too many musical biopics and feeling it was time to have some fun with that," Reilly said. "My character is an amalgamation of a number of classic musician stories, tales of excess, highs and lows and bad behavior."
Reilly’s got a musical background – he has played harmonica in blues bands and sang in Chicago and A Prairie Home Companion. Kasdan directed Zero Effect, maybe one of the most criminally underseen movies of the 90s. He started working with Apatow when he directed a number of classic Freaks and Geeks episodes, including Beers & Weirs.
Walk Hard will start shooting early next year, and after that Reilly will reteam with Will Ferrell and Judd Apatow for Step Brothers. How’s it feel to be living in the golden age of modern comedy? Enjoy it while it lasts.