Jonas Akerlund to direct Johnny Thunders biopic

Music video director Jonas Akerlund has been tapped to shoot a biopic about late rocker Johnny Thunders.
Beyonce’s Lemonade collaborator will take charge of the film adaptation of Nina Antonia’s authorised biography, Johnny Thunders in Cold Blood, which was released in 1987, and the author is excited to work with Akerlund.
“Rock n’ Roll movies are always something of an awkward beast to nail,” a statement issued by Antonia, who helped to pen the screenplay, reads. “Do you get an insider or an outsider to direct? Finally we got both in Jonas Akerlund.”
Casting details have yet to be announced, but production is expected to begin in early 2017, reports TheWrap.com.
Antonia’s book chronicled the New York Dolls founder’s rise to fame, as well as the guitarist’s infamous struggle with substance abuse, and his mysterious death in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1991.
He was thought to have died of drug-related causes, having suffered numerous overdoses, but his official cause of death was listed as “unknown”. Some critics suspect foul play as his apartment had been ransacked.
Akerlund made his name by working on music videos with the likes of Madonna, Christina Aguilera, U2, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga, while the Swede also directed Madonna’s documentary I’m Going to Tell You a Secret and took charge of her concert special The Confessions Tour: Live from London.
He made his feature-length film debut with 2002’s Spun, which featured Jason Schwartzman, Mickey Rourke, and John Leguizamo.