Ewan McGregor To Play Kurt Cobain?
Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is reportedly being lined up to play late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Cobain’s widow Courtney Love has acquired the rights to Charles Cross’ celebrated biography on her late husband and McGregor - who has already played a punk star in glam rock movie Velvet Goldmine - is believed to be Love’s number-one choice to play the troubled singer.
An insider on the planned movie tells British newspaper Daily Express, “A number of actors have been talked about the role but Ewan has emerged as the number one choice.”
The project will be the first official film about the tragic rocker, who committed suicide in 1995, although moviemaker Gus Van Sant cast actor Michael Pitt as a Cobain lookalike in 2005 movie Last Days.
UPDATE: Kurt died on April 5, 1994 - not in 1995 as the article above said. I guess Starpulse should do some fact checking before publishing things… anyways…sorry about the mixup.
January 17th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I bet Ewan could do a fine job. I just love him!
January 17th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Actually that might work, he also played a junkie in Trainspotting. . .And there is a bit of a resemblance.
January 17th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Yes, when you put their photos up next to each other, there is a resemblance. Ewan is a GREAT actor (although, in STAR WARS, he seemed a bit flat)…but this would be a good movie!
January 17th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I think he’s too old to play Kurt now.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
yea, Kurt was 27 when he died…Ewan will turn 36 this year. Of course, Hollywood magic can fix all.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I saw Ewan live last year and he looks very, very young in person.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Kurt died in April 1994, not in 1995.
January 17th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
…great casting call! now, who’s gonna play Vader — a.k.a. Courtney?…
January 18th, 2007 at 10:54 am
His character (Curt Wild) in Velvet Goldmine was clearly partially inspired by Cobain, and he was excellent in that part.
January 18th, 2007 at 11:23 am
If not ewan then Steve Zahn…really…
January 18th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Yeah next to Ewan, steve zan, with make up, could look close enough like him for a biopic
January 18th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Ya Ewan’s got that pretty boy face like Kurt. Can he sing like him?
January 18th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I think Tobey McGuire could do this role.
January 18th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Ewan can sing. He already has in two movies: Moulin Rouge and Down with Love. He’s a fantastic actor and could indeed pull this off.
I always thought River Phoenix could have played Kurt very well. Alas, he offed himself too (albeit, accidently)
January 19th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Works for me.
January 27th, 2007 at 4:06 am
Of course he CAN sing!Especially in Velvet Goldmine.
And there is a resemblance in voice.
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February 18th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
i think they need to find someone else to play him
February 18th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
he dont look anything like kurt
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April 23rd, 2007 at 12:22 am
HOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS READ THIS….well i think that guy in the soul asylum…. the frontman is the perfect guy to play kurt cobain in the movie….TAKE NOTE; HE CAN SING TOO,
June 11th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Get Brad Pitt to play as Kurt. Brad would rock.
August 25th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Dude no one can ever replace kurt
October 4th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I second the Brad Pitt vote. although, he’d never do it. brad pitt and kurt cobain look so much alike. no one ever realizes it, but they have the exact same face shape and eye stuff going on. and both are freakin hot.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:22 am
First of all, this should be an art film, and not some ~”Squeeze every dollar from the dead guy we can”~ movie. Someone like Oliver Stone would be the perfect Director for a project like this. This film could be like “The Doors” meets “Sid & Nancy.” But odds are it won’t be. I’d go and see the movie anyways just to see how much stuff they lie about. This film definately needs to focus more away from Kurt & Courtney and more on Kurt. But with Courtney Love at the helm Kurt will probably be made out to be a piece of sh*t, and Courtney portrayed as an angel. I don’t think ewans right for the part and here’s who I think should play the parts…
1. Kurt Cobain– `Edward Furlong.`
He’s the right age, has the right type of body and imagine him with long bleached long hair and a five O’clock shadow.
2. Dave Grohl– `Scott Patrick Green.`
Scott is an actor who played a part in Gus Van Saunts Last Days. He played one of Blakes rocker friends and has the right look and attitude for the part.
3. Courtney Love– ‘Brittney Murphy.`
I am convinced that she would be the absolute PERFECT person for this part, esspecially after seeing her in 8 mile.
4. Krist Novaselic– `Ashton Kutcher.`
If you think about it, Ashton could really pull off the krist novoselic role rather well. I believe he would be great for this part and this would further highlight his talents as an actor.
This film has the potential to be a really great film but it’s all up to whoevers making it. The filmakers should have people from various grunge/punk bands like The Melvins, RHCP, and the Breeders as consultants to ensure that the film keeps its genuine devotion. And I believe the ending should be open to question because there is alot of controversy surrounding Kurt Cobains death. To read about it Go to:www.justiceforkurt.com
October 21st, 2007 at 11:08 am
FUCK all the big name actors. They NEED to cast a real musician to pull off Kurt for this role. His performances and playing style are too crucial to the role and can’t be bullshitted by some Hollywood hot shot.
and above all…Kurt would’ve wanted it that way!
one suggestion:
Drew M. (singer from LA indie band Wintergreen)
check out the resemblance in this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jX0zWvYWBaI
He’d be WAY more authentic as Kurt rather than Ewan(or Leto) dressed up in an old cardigan, ripped jeans, and cons. Drew is actually 27 years old too…. unlike Ewan who is well into his mid thirties
January 4th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
If you’ve seen Velvet Goldmine (if you haven’t you need to) there is no doubt that Ewan McGregor should play Kurt. He is I-fuckin-dentical to Kurt in parts of that movie and if Ewan can be punk rock god Iggy (btw Kurt idolized Iggy) and sing like him then he can for sure be Kurt.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
February 29th, 2008 at 1:16 am
No mf way! Kurt would roll over in his grave and punish any and everyone who had anything to do with placing a familiar face star to play the role of Kurt Cobain. TO find a kid of the street that looks like him, that would make the kid happy. I look more like Kurt than any of the candidates that they have chosen. Especially since I have grown my hair back. And lost a couple 10 pounds. Please don’t try to replace Kurt with a Soap Opera star. The kid invented a genre! He would rather not have a movie made on his behalf, than to have a fragile kid, with no sense of the pain provided right on time by the acid reflux!
March 11th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Come on we all know Brad Pitt would be an awesome Kurt Cobain…Look at him in the early to mid ninties with the long blonde locks and goatie…he would be perfect..
March 12th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Ryan Gosling would make this movie what it realy could be.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
im afraid brad is too expensive for courtney’s budget
May 24th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
i think that ewan being older than kurt won’t be that big of a deal… kurt had drug and alcohol problems and looked older than he was. ewan doesn’t look very old - i think he’ll be good for it. he looks a bit like him, and he can obviously act and sing. i think he’d be great.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
These are the actors who I think should play Kurt:
Ewan McGregor
Josh Hartnett
Ryan Gosling
James McAvoy
ELijah Wood
Colin Farrell
Hugh Dancy
Zac Efron
Emile Hirsch
Jake Gyllenhaal
Tobey McGuire
Chris Evans
Hayden Christiansen
Jude Law
And to play Courtney Love:
Scarlett Johannsen
Michelle Williams
Kate Hudson
Claire Danes
Mischa Barton
Kirsten Dunst
Brittany Murphy
Rachel Bilson
Natalie Portman
Kate Winslet
Kate Beckinsale
I’ll need some feedback, who would be good and who wouldnt to play Kurt and Courtney