PHOEBE GALLAGHER
Fifteen years ago today the music world lost celebrated musician Michael Hutchence, frontman for legendary rock band INXS.
While it would’ve been the terrific time to release a biopic on the Aussie rocker now, filmmaker Robert Gallinsky tells Encore one isn’t too far away.
“Two Worlds Collide”, based on the book Just a Man – The Real Michael Hutchence by Tina Hutchence and Patricia Glassop (Hutchence’s sister and mother, respectively), is headed towards the cameras courtesy Trevor Ray Field, Suzy Marovski and the aforesaid Gallinsky, writer and executive producer.
“I chased the idea 12 years ago but there was so much litigation and family issues, it looked too harsh”, said Gallinsky. “But recently I was made aware of Trevor Ray Field who was good friends of Tina Hutchence and he brought me the book. Over the course of the last month we negotiated the rights with Tina and we hit the mark. I like music biopics to be about the person, not just sex, drugs and rock n roll. It’s going to be a heartfelt, interesting project about a complex life, like Ray or Walk the Line.”
The film will begin casting and secure a director sometime next year.
Gallinsky says he’s aware of Richard Lowenstein’s rival-Hutchence project, “Michael”, but says it’s a different offering than “Two Worlds Collide”.
“I’m aware of Richard’s project – there are a few around. This will be from the source material with a family perspective however. Richard is a good director, but I think this will appeal to a mainstream audience.”
Though no actors are reportedly in consideration to play Hutchence at this stage – they might be best going for an unknown – rumours surfaced a couple of years back that Johnny Depp was a Hutchence-family favourite to play the late singer.
