Lemmy Kilmister movie biopic announced

From Planet Rock.

A movie biopic about the life of late Motörhead legend Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister is in the works.

The eagerly anticipated movie is simply entitled Lemmy and it’s being directed by Greg Olliver who also co-directed and co-produced the acclaimed 2010 documentary film of the same name – Lemmy – alongside Wes Orshoski.

According to Deadline and Hollywood Reporter, Lemmy will follow the early life of Ian Fraser Kilmister from his upbringing in Stoke-on-Trent to famously becoming a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, to joining space rock torchbearers Hawkwind, before he formed Motörhead in the mid-seventies.

Lemmy has been in development since 2013 and production is tentatively set to start in 2021 depending on the situation with coronavirus pandemic.

“Everything you’ve heard about Lemmy is probably true… not because he was embracing rock n’ roll clichés, but because he was creating them,” Greg Olliver said in a statement.

“Marlboro Reds and Jack Daniel’s for breakfast, speed for dinner – all true. But behind that steely-eyed façade of rock n’ roll was also a compelling, complicated and lion-hearted man who stayed the course and never gave up playing the music that made him happy.

“We’ve been carefully developing this biopic since 2013, making sure to stay true to Lemmy, Motörhead band members Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, and all the other folks that played important roles in Lemmy’s life. This will be a film they’ll be proud of.”

Lemmy with Hawkwind in 1973 © Getty

Lemmy will be produced by VMI Worldwide’s Andre Relis and Damon Lane, with Motörhead’s manager Todd Singerman and Steffan Chirazi serving as executive producers.

The screenplay has been written by Medeni Griffiths with Greg Olliver providing additional writing input. The casting – including who is playing Lemmy himself – will be announced at a later date.

Todd Singerman and Steffan Chirazi said: “(Lemmy) is a story of immense cultural importance. If the last five years of his absence has taught us anything, it is that he was more unique than anyone could ever have known because no-one touches the quality and sheer freedom of the man.

“Greg is a deeply-trusted part of our circle, and we are delighted to see this film coming to fruition.”

Andre Relis adds: “Lemmy and Motorhead’s music had a major influence on my life and music experience. They were the band that started the crossover of metal and punk, VMI couldn’t be more excited to bring this story to the big screen.”

Deadline reports that Lemmy will be introduced to buyers by film finance and production company VMI Worldwide at the upcoming virtual Cannes market, which runs from 22nd to 28th June.

Lemmy died on 28th December 2015 four days after his 70th birthday following a short battle with cancer.

Earlier this year, KISS manager Doc McGhee confirmed a KISS movie biopic is in the works, while in February Sharon Osbourne revealed a movie about her relationship with Ozzy Osbourne is on the way.

Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Elton John’s Rocketman were both recently huge smashes at the box office, while Mötley Crüe’s Netflix film The Dirt garnered the band so much fresh interest they tore up their cessation of touring agreement.

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