Janis Joplin will be coming to the big screen courtesy of Martha Marcy May Marlene director Sean Durkin

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Filmmaker Sean Durkin made some waves last year with his excellent debut film MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE starring Elizabeth Olsen, about a woman who flees an abusive cult and the struggles she faces while attempting to reintegrate into a normal existence. Durkin walked out of Sundance with the award for Best Director for his efforts.

Today, Deadline reports that Durkin will next direct the long-gestating Janis Joplin biopic JOPLIN, and that Tony award-winning actress Nina Arianda (“Venus In Fur”) will be making her screen debut as the 1960s rock icon. If you’ll recall, other (better known) names that have been circling the coveted part these past few years include pop singer Pink and everyone’s favorite deer-in-headlights cutie Zooey Deschanel (not to mention Amy Adams and Renee Zellweger, though they were up for a rival project).

JOPLIN, reportedly budgeted at $20 million, is expected to go against cameras early next year. This particular version of the project has been trying to make it to the big screen for the last 12 years. Arianda, compared to the likes of Judy Holliday and Meryl Streep by Mike Nichols (CLOSER, THE GRADUATE), will herself sing 21 of Joplin’s most popular songs. Producer Peter Newman had the following to say about Arianda: “I’ve never in my life seen an actress walk on a stage and convey the duality of vulnerability with overheated sexuality, which is what Janis was all about.”