Update: This news has been debunked by the director himself (see below). Carry on.
Quentin is a great filmmaker and a good friend, however there is absolutely no truth to the stories that he is going to play Roger Corman.
— Joe Dante (@joe_dante) September 20, 2013
We got the welcome news earlier this month that Joe Dante was finally set to begin production on his long-gestating biopic surrounding B-movie master Roger Corman, The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes. While the icon himself will have a cameo, an original iteration had Colin Firth stepping into his shoes, but now word has come in today on the surprising choice of who has reportedly bagged the lead role.
According to The Telegraph (via Bleeding Cool), it’s none other than Quentin Tarantino who will portray his idol and friend, Corman. The 87-year-old director opened up with the publication regarding the plot of Dante’s movie, saying, “It’s the story of how I made The Trip in the 1960s about LSD. It starred Jack Nicholson in one of his first roles and I took LSD so I knew what it was all about. It was very controversial but it was the only American picture invited to the Cannes Film Festival that year.” He also confirmed his cameo, saying he’ll be “playing the executive who didn’t want me to make the film.”
While Tarantino’s acting never matches his writing and directing skills — particularly his appearance in his last directorial effort — I trust Dante with bringing Corman’s story to the screen. With many roles still to be cast (who can possibly step into the shoes of Nicholson?), check out Tarantino honoring his B-movie hero at the 2009 Governors Awards in the meantime, directly below.
What do you think about Tarantino portraying Corman?