Russell Crowe to Tell People in Marketing to Kill Themselves

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 20, 2008

Russell Crowe and Bill Hicks Ah yes, my friends, it is back — that cursed sensationalized title that we love to play around with here and there here on FSR. You are currently wondering softly to yourselves what I am up to with a title like that, and/or what kind of drugs I am on as I continue to drown out the hustle and bustle of my day by watching Men’s Gymnastics on television.

Ultimately though, those of you familiar with the comedy of the late, great Bill Hicks have already gotten the joke and moved on. Perhaps you have also pieced together the fact that Russell Crowe admitted to The Sidney Morning Herald this past weekend that he is, in fact, actively developing a biopic of Hicks, with writer Mark Staufer currently working through a first draft. To be exact, Crowe had this to say:

“I have another project based on the life of comedian Bill Hicks, which is going from treatment to draft stage with Kiwi writer Mark Staufer.”

See, I told you so. This news comes on the heels of the production delays incurred by Crowe’s much higher profile film Nottingham, the Ridley Scott-directed Robin Hood story that was postponed last week. The delay will afford Crowe the time to spend with his family in their Woolloomooloo home (real city, I swear).

And now for the big punch line, for those of you still not following. This comes to us courtesy of Bill Hicks himself:

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Cole Abaius

A comic that smokes?? Someone should have politely informed him that smoking CAN KILL.

Remember when telling people they were soulless, meatpuppets working for The Man and that they should kill themselves was edgy? God, I miss Bill Hicks.

T

He was comedy gold.

Made you laugh and made you think. He went beyond stand-up into new territory - a deep, important analysis of a world that shits on itself, day-in,day-out.

Though his material rings eternal, I doubt anyone could do him justice on the silverscreen and Crowe is way too old anyway. If it has to be done it would work best with an unknown - and someone who can capture the fire and anger that drove Hicks's comedy.

One thing's for sure - I'd love to hear what Hicks would make of this piece of casting...!

T

Russell Crowe to Tell People in Marketing to Kill Themselves

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