X-Men (2006, 2009) and Hugh Jackman's Open.No Producer John Palermo considering a summer start in L.A. for The Dead Circus, a drama that develops a storyline into the odd death of one hit wonder Bobby Fuller.
James Marsden, Michael Shannon (Update: Shannon's reps said scheduling has knocked him out of the role), Michael C. Hall and Oscar winner Melissa Leo are attached to this project.
The script is penned by Adam Davenport and John Kaye, based on Kaye's novel. Davenport is going to make his directorial debut on The Dead Circus.
Fuller has been on the rise, with I Fought the Law charting on Billboard, but he was soon found dead in his car outside of his apartment. Fuller's death has remained a mystery, but some speculate that the Manson family was involved in that case.
Leo will play a Manson Family matriarch who was hiding five years after the murder and comes out to reveal that the answer to writer's questions might be found in 16 mm snuff films buried in Death Valley. Marsden, starring this weekend in Hop, will play Charles Manson himself. Hall will play a corrupt manager of the dead rocker.
Here's what newcomer Devenport has to say:
With The Dead Circus, I'm looking to create the first rock noir and a rock myth that blurs history and fiction in a way that will generate a compelling examination of the events examined more so than if it had been a conventional biopic. I'm also inspired by the paranoia films of the 70s, movies like Alan Pakula's Klute, Parallax View and All the President's Men that were as thrilling as they were socially relevant and lingered with one long after leaving the theater. In that regard, I also see the film as a portrait of corruption and indifference in Hollywood, where the city itself is just as culpable for the crimes perpetrated therein. And if this film inspires people to create rather than to destroy, I feel strongly that we could potentially create an experience that will prevent other artists from going down paths similar to Manson, whose failure as an artist ultimately led to the Tate-Labianca murders.”
Adam Davenport has since edit thesis film, Midnight Son, which he shot on 35mm with Clint Eastwood's photographer Tom Stern, became the recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker Award
John Kaye has been a journalist, playwright and screenwriter on films including American Hot Wax and Where the Buffalo Roam.
Let's hear The Crickets I Fought the Law song, famously covered by Bobby Fuller.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPXnoLAEUSQ[/youtube]
With Melissa Leo in this movie, the success of the project is guaranteed. She will win another Oscar. Everyone will remember that Melissa invited Alice Ward to be her “Oscar Date” this year. Alice Ward is the person Melissa played in “The Fighter,” but Alice’s poor health kept her from attending. Since Melissa is playing a fictional “Manson Matriarch” in “The Dead Circus,” the only logical person to serve as her “Oscar Date” next year will be Charles Manson himself! Governor Brown will let him out of prison for the evening, but think about it! It would make everybody forget Melissa’s “F” bomb and Freddy Kruger is not available.