The world’s media outlets are a-flutter today with the news that Cate Blanchett is to play the role of the young Bob Dylan in the forthcoming unconventional biopic to be directed by Todd Haynes. From The Telegraph:

Cate Blanchett confirmed at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday that she will depict the early Dylan in I’m Not There, the first Hollywood film that he has authorised on his peripatetic life.

Heath Ledger, the star of Brokeback Mountain, Richard Gere, Christian Bale and Ben Wishaw will depict Dylan at other times in his life.

Final details of the film, which was first announced three years ago, were given in Cannes. The producers called it “a ferocious musical romp”.

Shooting will start in Montreal in July, with one more Dylan to be cast.

News blurbs of this kind, regarding this potential film, have been coming out now for several years. I take it that this story is getting more attention because there is a date when shooting is actually supposed to start. Nevertheless, having been there for the previous reports, my reaction to this “news” is not much more than a yawn. I am a little concerned that Haynes’ original vision (which reportedly included the idea of Beyonce Knowles or Venus Williams starring as Dylan) seems to have become rather watered-down and whitewashed as the years have gone by.

I mean, Richard Gere? Heath Ledger? Dullsville.

If you’re going to make a whacked-out, super-weird film on Dylan’s life, I say you should go all the way, or there’s very little point.

Nevertheless, good luck to all concerned. They’re certainly going to need it.

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