August 19, 2004

Jude Law to play Ian Curtis in new movie. Ian Curtis, tragically dead singer of Joy Division (1977-1980, later picking up drummer's wife to become New Order) will be played by second sexiest man on earth in forthcoming biopic. The confusion in my eyes says it all / I've lost control.
posted by ActuallySettle 20 years ago
  • Man I can't wait for MTV news to have to explain who Ian Curtis was.
  • Fortunately, Bernard still looks twelve years old, so I'm sure he can easily play his '76 to '80-era self. Looks like the site's down at the moment, though. Also, I still very much liked the first New Order album, with Stephen singing half of the songs. He sounded a LOT like Ian Curtis...
  • I don't see it listed yet on the IMDB. Since the site's spitting out errors, do you happen to know the director and/or title, ActuallySettle?
  • Oh My Goth!! cool...makes me wanna get out all that fun goth stuff, dust it off and dance silly 'round the living room...
  • Uh the link I found was on neworderonline.com, from ananova. Let me find another link.
  • http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=us&ie=ascii&q=ian+curtis&btnG=Search+News
  • Here's the manchester evening news story: HOLLYWOOD heart-throb Jude Law is set for a return to Manchester - to play tragic Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in a film about the celebrated singer. Producers of the biopic say they have lined up a "huge name" to play the lead role. And ex-Joy Division star Peter Hook says he believes 32-year-old Law, who was in Manchester to film a remake of Alfie last year, is the front-runner to play the role of Curtis. US-based production company Claraflora is producing the as-yet-untitled film. It is based on the book Touching From A Distance, written by Curtis's widow Deborah. Claraflora was unavailable for comment. Producer Todd Eckert would only say that the company was talking to an actor who was "huge" and also bore a physical resemblance to Curtis. The guessing game to identify the actor who will take the role in the Manchester-based production is now in full swing. Eckert gave one further clue to his identity by saying the actor in question has just finished a couple of films and the only music he listened to was Joy Division and New Order. Choice Hook, the bass guitarist who formed Joy Division with Curtis in 1976, told the Manchester Evening News: "The whisper I've heard is that Jude Law will probably play the role. It's not a bad choice. "The film is being made by Hollywood, but what's important is that they get the story right. "I don't know why the guy who played Ian in 24 Hour Party People can't do it, because he was absolutely brilliant. When our drummer, Bernard and I saw him we were gobsmacked." Sean Harris - who played Curtis in 24 Hour Party People - has not been approached to play him again in the forthcoming film. Other possible contenders for the role could be Irish-born bad boy actor Colin Farrell, Star Wars heart-throb Ewan McGregor or Mancunian Max Beesley, from Burnage. But Hook said he didn't think any of them would be suitable for the role. Eckert told the BBC: "We are speaking with an actor who is huge and looks rather a lot like Ian. He has just finished a couple of films in which the only thing he listened to was Joy Division and New Order. "Should this guy ultimately agree that he is going to play Ian, it would make it a much bigger film. Ian Curtis is one of the most important figures in the history of music." Producers say the film would be made in Manchester. Curtis killed himself in 1980, and the other members of Joy Division, including Hook, went on to form New Order.
  • I smell sequel potential.
  • Oh yes lets witness Bernard Sumner's thrilling collaboration with 808 state. OMG I just creamed my jeans.
  • Starring Robert Smith as Gillian Gilbert and Robin Williams as Peter Hook.
  • I got a book coming out.
  • Thanks muchly, ActuallySettle! My google-fu failed me today. But I am curious about their choice to base it directly on the Deborah Curtis book... It's been several years since I read it, but from what I recall, there was more than a little bit of lingering vitriol in her treatment of Ian. Not that he didn't necessarily deserve it, being unfaithful to her, but if I recall correctly, the book seemed to make the point that Ian killed himself partly for the sake of notariety or attention-getting, a twisted attempt at infamy (going out young like Hendrix). But, as many who have dealt personally or interpersonally with clinical depression knows, that sort of motivation tends to crop up more in half-hearted suicide "attempts" (true cries for help) than in actual, successful, well-planned (if that's the right phrase) suicides who know they want to end it and know how to do it.
  • Not that I wouldn't go see the movie, though. Imagining Robert Smith as Gillian Gilbert... that just gives me the screaming heebie jeebies.
  • Settle - so if the dashing Mr. Law's second sexiest, who's number one? Is this an official position? (answers not including the word "Depp" may be mocked)
  • Great excuse to put some Joy Division on. Dead Souls indeed! And I agree with flashboy about the probability of mocking. And would also like to know if there is science involved in this. ;)
  • Yeah. Hmm.
  • Hello! Ian Curtis here! I watch Rok TV every day.
  • The fella who played him in 24hr Party People gobsmacked me as well. Too bad it won't be him.
  • Good grief, Colin Farrell???? There is no way in hell he could pull that role off. But I would certainly have extremely raunchy sex with him! Did I just type that out loud?
  • No, no. No-one saw a thing.
  • Eww, sex with COlin Farrel? Am I the only person in the world who fails to see Colin Farrel as attractive?
  • I am nude
  • See profile for an idea of what that's like
  • Darshon, I will gladly join you in any raunchy sex scene w/colin farrel...mmmmmm...but I must agree he isnt really a good physical type to play ian curtis...thats ok, he can take his staring role as our sex slave....BWAH HA HA HAH!!!!
  • Eww, sex with COlin Farrel? Am I the only person in the world who fails to see Colin Farrel as attractive? Yes, you are.;)
  • not with a bang... .
  • I didn't realize they were still together.
  • Aah, shit. .
  • Control
  • Ooh looks good. Thank living fuck they didn't use Law. But Samantha Morton irritates me.
  • Doctor Who actor David Tennant is to star in a separate Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet in 2008. Patrick Stewart, currently to be seen in the RSC's Macbeth, will play Claudius, under Gregory Doran's direction. That's some serious sci-fi geek appeal.
  • Nice to see Stewart and Tennant branching out into serious theatre. Good on you guys! Law as Hamlet, well OK then. Although his Alfie was a bit forced.
  • A little bit more on Control. Also, Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan.
  • Someone stole Ian Curtis' gravestone.