It seems like it's been a long time coming, but we finally have the first official look at André Benjamin (aka André 3000 from Outkast) as Jimi Hendrix in "All is By My Side." No pressure, André, no pressure.
Benjamin won't be kissing the sky in this biopic. Instead, he'll be covering songs by other artists like Muddy Waters and the Beatles. Experience Hendrix LLC announced that the estate wouldn't license the rock star's music "without its full participation."
However, producer Sean McKittrick told Rolling Stone that the movie traces Hendrix's life before the 1967 release of the late rock star's debut album, "Are You Experienced." "This is the story of Jimi being discovered as a backup musician and how he went to London and became Jimi Hendrix," McKittrick explained.
In any case, we'll have to wait a few more months to see or hear how Benjamin's performance goes over. The film will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, where writer/director John Ridley, who also penned the adapted screenplay for Steve McQueen's historical drama "12 Years a Slave," will be flying high.
[via TIFF, Rolling Stone h/t /Film]
