There’s been a John Belushi biopic in the works for seemingly forever (or at least since we last reported on it in 2010). But today, there’s a glimmer of hope for anyone who’s ever dreamed of seeing a non-Belushi actor revisit Belushi’s greatest SNL moments with a bit of drug addiction drama in between. According to The Hollywood Reporter, rumored director Todd Phillips (of the Hangover series) has dropped out of the project and screenwriter Steve Conrad (writer of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) upping his position from writer to writer/director.
But the question remains: which actor is best suited to take on the role? Conrad has apparently met with two already- Emile Hirsch and Workaholics’ Adam Devine, with Joaquin Phoenix vaguely connected to the project as well. The film is described as “the story of a man that embodied both the glory and the tragedy of the American dream as it focuses on Belushi at the height of his fame,” and the words “glory” and “tragedy” might be a bit too much for Devine. Outside of Workaholics, the actor has just about zero serious dramatic experience. And Phoenix may not be the funniest man in showbiz, but he’d certainly be the most terrifying of the three when wielding a samurai sword and shrieking Japanese-sounding gibberish.
The film’s already dragged itself out of development hell; the least it could do is pick a lead actor already.
