"Shutter Island" actress Michelle Williams is in early negotiations to star as Janis Joplin in the long-in-the-works Joplin biopic titled "Janis." "Martha Marcy May Marlene" helmer Sean Durkin is on board to direct.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Williams' role in the big-screen biopic "Janis" has attracted and disappointed a very long list of actresses going back decades. "The Whole Truth" actress Renee Zellweger, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" actress Amy Adams, "Your Highness" actress Zooey Deschanel, and "Midnight in Paris" actress Nina Arianda have riffed in and out of projects over the years.
"Janis" will revolve on the life of the premier female blues vocalist Janis in 1960. It is based on the book "Love, Janis." It tells the story of a young woman rising from playing at coffeehouses to performing at Woodstock and dealing with sudden fame and celebrity at the same time as combating alcohol and heroin addiction and trying to keep her creativity.
The "Love, Janis" book is penned by Janis' sister Laura Joplin. It was built around a series of letter written by the Janis to her Texas family and friends. It was featured heavily in director Amy Berg's 2015 documentary "Janis: Little Girl Blue," Deadline reported.
Durkin's project "Janis" is not to be confused with a rival Joplin dream project by director Jean-Marc Vallee that attracted Adams. Many attempts for the Joplin biopic have been made shortly after Janis' death. Hollywood has been trying to make for at least a couple of decades, and there are competing projects in development.
Janis died on Oct. 4, 1970 at the age of 27 from a heroin overdose after releasing only three albums and enjoying such hits as "Piece of My Heart." Her fourth album was released just months after her death and featured one of her last hits "Me and Bobby McGee."
Williams is currently warming up her pipes for "The Greatest Showman" starring Hugh Jackman centering on circus impresario P.T. Barnum set to shoot this winter. She also stars in Awards-season contender "Manchester by the Sea" with "Gone Baby Gone" actor-director Casey Affleck. This upcoming film is released in theaters this coming Nov. 18 by Amazon and Roadside Attractions.
"Janis" is set to be released in USA in 2018.
Watch the video of Michelle Williams as the most recent actress to attempt a Janis Joplin biopic: