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James McAvoy to Play Kurt Cobain?

Tue, 10/30/2007 - 6:30am by BuzzSugar
5,300 Views - 39 comments


When first I heard of this project to turn the Kurt Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven into a biopic at the urging of Courtney Love, it was in conjunction with Ewan McGregor's name as the actor who might be taking on the role of the Nirvana frontman. Recently the project acquired a production company, so it's definitely happening. But McGregor's name is nowhere to be found.

Instead, there are reports that James McAvoy might be the man who plays the troubled Cobain, a suggestion that I find bizarre. I love McAvoy as an actor and I think he's adorable, but to play Kurt Cobain? He'd make a very elfin grunge rocker, in my opinion.

What do you think about this news? Should McAvoy be cast? Should Ewan McGregor be cast? Should anyone be playing Kurt Cobain in the first place?

McAvoy photo source

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39 Comments Add a Comment

  • Daisie's picture
    Daisie
    2

    I love James McAvoy! It's hard for me to look at him and not see him as Rory O'Shea and cry. ^^ I'd rather he not play Cobain, nor McGregor frankly, but I'm sure he could pull it off with ease. I just...eh....I don't think many people know him yet and I don't want him known as the guy that played Kurt Cobain. Is that selfish? I'd rather it go to someone more obscure.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • glynislily's picture
    glynislily
    3

    Well sooner or later they were going to make a movie. But I don't think this is the right guy. When I went to see Across the Universe the actor Joe Anderson who plays Max would have been great. I think why not make a biopic of Kurt it will probably be boring and inaccurate but why not.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Allison's picture
    Allison
    4

    I love James McAvoy and I think he's got more of an edge these days than MacGregor, who's been doing a lot of silly stuff. Frankly, I'd like to see a grungy American actor... Billy Crudup perhaps?

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Jinx's picture
    Jinx
    5

    I think James can pull it off. He's an amazing actor. I feel in love watching Rory OShea. Sad
    Michael Pitt doesn't really look like Kurt either, and I know Last Days wasn't an official Kurt story, but the resemblance was downright scary in it.
    I like Kurt alot, but I doubt I'll be rushing to see this.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • LaLaLaurie06's picture
    LaLaLaurie06
    6

    Ewan McGregor was amazing as a blonde-haired rocker in Velvet Goldmine. I think he'd do an awesome job as Cobain, but I like McAvoy, too.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Lorelei Spirit's picture
    Lorelei Spirit
    8

    I LOVE Ewan - he'd be great in the role. But this McAvoy kid looks like he would almost look identical to Cobain if he was grunged up a bit.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Cymone's picture
    Cymone
    9

    I actually like this idea better than MrGregor. Biopics completely rely on casting and the wrong choice can ruin an otherwise great movie... not sure if McAvoy can handle it. I'd like to see an obscure actor surrounded by big names.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • chipjimi's picture
    chipjimi
    10

    I love James McAvoy and I think he would be fantastic as Kurt Cobain. I am not sure if Ewan McGregor can pull it off.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Tink Again's picture
    Tink Again
    11

    I think that James McAvoy is the perfect cast for Kurt Cobain. I've never been a huge fan of Kobain or Nirvana anyway so I kind of don't really care. But McAvoy does really look like Kobain.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • mare67's picture
    mare67
    13

    Love Love Love James McAvoy. I think he'll totally mold himself into Kurt and be amazing. Look at the faces in the picture above. Slap some grungy blonde hair on him and a 5 o'clock shadow and you've got Kurt.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • swwonder's picture
    swwonder
    14

    Hmm, Interesting. I liked the idea of Ewan, but now the idea of James is sounding even better.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • splayer's picture
    splayer
    15

    I'd be happy with either one. You gotta love James' blue eyes. Smiling

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • bhilb's picture
    bhilb
    16

    Glynislily, I agree that "Max" from Across the Universe would make an excellent Kurt Cobain.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • susanec's picture
    susanec
    17

    Is this the David Benioff project? There's a blurb in the October 19 Hollywood Reporter but nothing about casting. Could be interesting though.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • treb's picture
    treb
    19

    I think he actually really looks like him...and Cobain wasn't a big guy, not sure about the elfin comment.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • alillee's picture
    alillee
    21

    I always thought Jared Leto (pre-band days) looked like Kurt Cobain. This McAvoy fellow sounds alright though.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • flutterpie's picture
    flutterpie
    22

    i have an idea how about no one play him and we can all just let the poor man rest in peace? anyhoo, kurt was kinda elfin himself wasnt he?

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • bart simpson's picture
    bart simpson
    23

    Both Kurt and James are 5'7".... and James is great... I can see him pulling off the grunge look.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • youngheart222's picture
    youngheart222
    25

    I love James McAvoy, he's an amazingly talented young actor and I really think he could pull it off!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • CaterpillarGirl's picture
    CaterpillarGirl
    26

    ewan is too old to play cobain (kurt was 27 at death ewan is almost 37), and cobain was a very small man so i think James could pull it off.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Linda McP's picture
    Linda McP
    28

    I like this casting. James McAvoy is amazing. I loved him in Last King of Scotland; he really deserved an award for that performance.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • emalove's picture
    emalove
    29

    I agree that Ewan is a little too old to play Kurt...he'd be great, but I don't think he'd be that believable.

    I also think James would be a great choice!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • mellafe's picture
    mellafe
    30

    James McAvoy is my favorite actor and I'm kinda getting tired of seeing him up for every other role out there. I hope he doesn't play this one, just a personal opinion here, he can play better and/or more interesting roles.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • californiagirlx7's picture
    californiagirlx7
    31

    I like James McAvoy but I don't think he would be a good choice. Ewan McGregor would be perfect or Joe Anderson (he played Max in Across the Universe). We know that both Ewan and Joe can actually sing as well.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • DCStar's picture
    DCStar
    32

    He DOES look like him! And Buzz...don't you know that Kurt WAS quite the elfin rocker? He was a small guy!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Black Velveteen's picture
    Black Velveteen
    33

    Hmmm...I dunno. I like him more in period pieces than grunge, but it's good that he's branching out and not becoming a type-casted actor. I'm sure he'll do a great job as Kurt! Smiling

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • BuzzSugar's picture
    BuzzSugar
    34

    I am aware that Kurt Cobain was a small guy! I didn't realize my elfin comment would launch so much height discussion, that's not exactly what I meant by "elfin." More that I can't quite picture McAvoy play the troubled grunge rocker that Cobain was.
    Sheesh!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Sappy's picture
    Sappy
    35

    There is no one who could ever replace, mimic or act like Kurt and no one should ever try. this is a horrible mistake to make this movie if for no other reason than the fact that Kurt would be completly against it. also, i dont know who James Macavoy is but, he looks nothing like Kurt and he is a disgrace and an embarassment to every Nirvana fan and the entire Nirvana enterprise. while this book may be a very insightful and indepth analysis of Kurt's life, it should stay just that: a book! also making this movie would only glamourize the music industry, drugs and a very troubled and depressed indivudal who would never have even wanted to be in any way associated with this project. that will be all.

    21 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Jinx's picture
    Jinx
    36

    Sappy, commenting on someone's acting abilities (re McAvoy) when you don't even know who they are is just narrow minded.

    Will Smith doesn't look like Ali either, but he did one heck of a job playing him.

    I fail to see how this disgraces and embarrasses him, his fans, or the "enterprise". If anything disgraces Kurt Cobain, it is the fact that as a father, he blew his head off, leaving a daughter to live with that fact.
    I loved Kurt, but he was only a drug addicted rock star. I believe, had he lived, he would have faded away like many other grunge rockers, instead of forever living in the glow of obsessed fans.

    20 weeks 12 hours ago Report Comment
  • Kartene's picture
    Kartene
    37

    Cobain was this very complex being that people THINK they understand, but they normally don't even come close.. I agree with Sappy that Cobain wouldn't want a movie made about him..he hated the stardom.. But at the same time, Sappy is wrong about McAvoy coz he's a very good actor.. And Jinx, it is clear that you have no idea what kind of person Cobain is.. From all that I've read about him, he never wanted to be remembered or idolized or anything like that.. And only god knows the pain and misery he went through and I don't think he ever wanted to leave his daughter.. His death may not even have been suicide in the first place..! I think people should just stop judging Kurt.. The way he grew up and all, there really was no one to guide him and help him deal with things.. He's not just a drug addicted rockstar!!! There's more to him than that!

    18 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • Jinx's picture
    Jinx
    38

    I like Kurt Cobain alot but I'm not blinded. I doubt Kurt would want an unauthorized movie made about him, same as just about anyone. But when you lived a life such as Kurt's and go out in the fashion he did, it seems inevitable.
    I believe that Kurt Cobain killed himself, and I have tried to find out alot about it. People just love a rock star death conspiracy, but for the most part, they are false. In all probability Kurt committed suicide, as much as many people would love to blame Courtney Love.
    I agree, there was much more to Kurt, as there is many drug addicts. But he allowed himself to sink into a drug induced excuse for a life, and you lose yourself, and he did.
    Kurt was special, I would just love to see where he would be if he had lived. The grunge scene passed, it would have been interesting to see whether he reinvented himself, or what direction he took, but he is dead.
    And I will gladly watch James McAvoy play the part.

    18 weeks 15 hours ago Report Comment
  • fabulicious's picture
    fabulicious
    39

    The acting talent is there Smiling The looks are there Laughing out loud I wonder about the accent ;P

    14 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment

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