Reports have emerged that Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley beat out Rob Pattinson to play Jeff Buckley in the upcoming biopic.
A “source” has told Hollywood Life that Badgley has been cast over popular choices James Franco and Twilight’s Robert Pattinson.
The source said, “Robert Pattinson is devastated he’s lost out on the one role he really wanted. It was down to Rob, James Franco and Penn for the part, and Rob was really pushing himself to get it.”
Buckley’s mother and executive producer Mary Guibert was also open to Pattinson, saying earlier, “Robert is a fine young actor. I’m flattered he’s been linked to this project. When the time comes we’ll give everybody an opportunity to be seen and heard”.
But apparently it’s Badgley who will be portraying the sensitive singer-songwriter who died in 1997 at age 30.
The biopic idea has been kicking around for years but solidified recently with the addition of director Jake Scott (son of Ridley), who has shot clips for Soundgarden, Oasis, U2 and R.E.M. among others.
At last look, the script will be written by Ryan Jaffe (The Rocker), in part from the David Browne book Dream Brother: The Lives And Music Of Tim And Jeff Buckley.
VIDEO: Check out our chat with Buckley devotee Ry Cuming below.
