American singer-songwriter Pink revealed the reason behind Janis Joplin’s biopic never seeing the light of day. While there were many known names being considered to play the late rock singer in the biopic, Pink was the final choice. Sadly, the film was never made and now we know why.
“It’s Not A Happy Ending”: Pink About Janis Joplin Biopic
A 2004 Variety article had confirmed that singer-songwriter Pink was slated to star in and as Janis Joplin in the biopic which was set to be directed by Penelope Spheeris. The film was going to be called The Gospel According To Janis and Pink was Spheeris’ first choice to play Joplin. Spheeris has stated that she was trying to make a movie Janis Joplin for 15 years.
“After trying to make a picture on Janis’ life for 15 years, I’d call Alecia’s screen test the most gratifying moment in my film career. She is the perfect age to play Janis from when she first came to California at 19 to when she died at 27.”
However, after hearing rumours about several other actresses being considered for the lead role. Reportedly, Scarlett Johansson and Lindsay Lohan were the other names being thrown into the mix. The rumours certainly didn’t sit well with Pink and in 2006, the singer decided to drop out of the movie.
“They’re trying to turn it into some circus pop contest – who’s the ‘it’ girl who wants to play Janis? Janis was so much deeper than that.”
In her most recent interview with Howard Stern, Pink revealed that the movie never got made due to a problem with the script. She told Howard that the producers were looking for a happy ending in the Janis Joplin biopic, which she did not agree with. When Howard asked her why was the project never completed, Pink shared her side of the story.
“You know, I think that Janis doesn’t want it made. I think there are a lot of things that go into that. I think it’s a lot harder to get a biopic done about a female, that’s why we don’t have that many. And also, I just don’t think Janis wants it made. Linda Perry was once slated to play Janis, Brittney Murphy, there’s so many people.”
“I mean, there’s had to have been atleast 10 projects that didn’t fly. To me, that’s a bigger- Janis wasn’t happy. Also, they want to make it a happy ending, it’s not a happy ending. I mean, it’s a completion, but it’s not the truth.”
Howard further questioned whether it was in the script that the biopic would end on a happy note. She responded-
“Yeah, they want it to be that Janis chose to just end it in a – no, dude, she overdosed. Also, I wasn’t there, I can’t say the whole story but it certainly wasn’t a happy ending. Pearl didn’t take off until after she died.”
The Howard Stern Show host asked if Pink thinks that Hollywood doesn’t want to make a Janis Joplin movie because she’s a woman. She said, “I think it’s a part of it.”
The late American rock singer was found dead at her Los Angeles apartment at the age of 27. The cause of her death was reported to be an accidental fatal overdose of heroin after an autopsy. She was found dead in her apartment by the team since she had missed her scheduled recording session. Janis Joplin’s second and final album, Pearl was released three months after her death and was the biggest hit of her career. The album held the No.1 spot on Billboard 200 for nine weeks. She died on October 4, 1970
