I actually am paying attention to the number of signs, and it's been about a month since the last one. But this is most definitely some of the scariest news I've read in some time. Today's Hollywood Reporter has a story that starts with the following sentence: "The WB Network is developing an original movie about the life of 1990s rock icon Kurt Cobain." The same story later quotes Sr. VP of original movies Tana Nugent Jamieson. "'The day Kurt Cobain died was the day music died for a generation,' she said. 'His story is perfect for our audience.'"
Now I'm as big a fan of "the Frog" as your average 15-year-old girl, if not my own 32-year-old male demo, and the network can only wish that my household would be given a People Meter. I DiVo Gilmore Girls, Everwood and Smallville, and I so far have been unable to convince my girlfriend to stop watching One Tree Hill, but this is just so wrong. The best way to bastardize Cobain's story is to make it into your standard TV movie. The best way to make it even cheaper and cheesier is to try to make it hip and edgy, but wind up creating something that looks like The Heights meets Dawson's Creek. And don't think I'm kidding about Chad Michael Murray. The WB is known for cultivating young "talent," creating a pseudo old-fashioned studio system by using its discoveries on all their shows. Murray started on the Creek, appeared with the Girls, took a test-drive of Silver in the attempt to recreate The Lone Ranger, and he's now the king of the Hill. If it's not him, I'm sure James Van Der Beek would kill for the role. Literally.
But casting aside, this is bad bad news for any Nirvana, Cobain or music fan. Could a movie be made? Probably. Should it be made for The WB? Hell no! In fact, if anyone other than an actual filmmaker with music credentials takes this on, absolutely every TV entity should stay away from taking on this story. That means you MTV and VH1. I saw that fake-ass Real World movie, and I still haven't forgiven you.
You forget how Chad rocked out in Freaky Friday
Posted by: lily | Friday, April 16, 2004 at 09:50 AM
i think nirvana was the greatest band ever. and i think chad michael murray is a great actor. but to mix the 2 having chad play kurt cobain is just wrong. chad would never be able to portray the sadness kurt went through and i think the movie would plain out suck.
Posted by: kiki | Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 01:15 PM
If anyone should make a movie about
"the life and times of kurt cobain" it
should be an independent filmmaker. not
some multibillion dollar economic
threshold, Kurt's life was not to be
taken lightly and shouldn't be portrayed
by someone with absolutely no knowledge
of kurt or of the band. So i curse the
WB, go to hell network television,
and stay away from kurt cobain.
Posted by: Jack | Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 02:25 PM
I have been into Nirvana for the past two years and I have read a number of articles and book on both the band and Kurt Cobain. It is not suprising when I say that Kurt Cobain is one of the most influential people in my life and that Nirvana is my favorite band. I commend you for writing the article and am at the same time just about ready to piss my pants when I read it. I don't know if any made for t.v. movie could every portray Kurt Cobain's rigorous and tormenting life properly but what I do know is that Chad Michael Murray can't pull it off and he needs to shove that role up his ass and reject it because he's not a developed nor talented enough actor to pull it off. Fuck the WB.
Posted by: Mikaylah | Monday, June 28, 2004 at 04:49 PM
I don't think any movie could possibly do Kurt's life justice. The thought of that shit actor Chad Michael Murray playing him makes me sick to my stomach. this is EXACTLY the kind of thing that Kurt would have hated...he must be rolling over in his grave. God help us all, I swear, the music industry is going straight to fucking hell. Again. Fuck the WB. I'm not watching that stupid movie. I love Kurt, and Nirvana and the music, and all I can say is this is a goddamn disgrace. When will this bullshit end??
Posted by: Alma | Thursday, July 15, 2004 at 11:37 PM
Hey Mikaylah and Jack, fuck you! If anyone should be called a SHIT, it should be you! Although I agree that Kurt's life should not be turned into a show or a movie or whatever, Chad is a good actor!I'm not a fan of Chad, but I do know he can act. You two are probably just insecure that you don't stand a chance to be even considered to be on TV. You're pathetic, and you suck! Better get a life before Kurt rises from his grave and hunt you for pretending to be his fans, but actually you're just looking for a way to put down people who are actually better than you are!
Posted by: Jake | Friday, December 03, 2004 at 11:20 PM
chad murry as kurt is the most retarted thing i have ever heard. having grown up with nirvana and living in seattle seeing it all, the wb is making a hugh mistake and will piss quite a few off and should self the whole thing NOW!
Posted by: will moore | Saturday, June 04, 2005 at 08:18 PM
Everyone that is a fan of Kurt knows how much he hated the spotlight. I'm sure making a big budget movie about him starring Chad Michael Murray WOULD have him turning in his grave... has anyone heard of this Last Days movie coming out? Google it.
Posted by: Candace | Friday, August 26, 2005 at 09:24 PM
i luv u Chad u r so hot and u betta no it and your a sexy beast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Lauren | Sunday, November 06, 2005 at 03:39 AM
If anyone should make a movie about chad murry as kurt is the most retarted thing i have ever heard. having grown up with nirvana and living in seattle seeing it all,
Posted by: Sanjay | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 12:39 AM