Almost 70 years ago, the world lost rising star James Dean. In 1955, he died in a car accident after only being in three movies of his career. On the anniversary of his passing, an announcement came of a James Dean biopic coming about his alleged gay romance.
James Dean was in publicized romances with actresses like Barbara Glenn, Pier Angeli, and Ursula Andress. But, screenwriter William Bast wrote in his memoir, Surviving James Dean, about his own story of their alleged gay romance. On the anniversary of the late actor’s death, THR announced writer/director Guy Guido has acquired the rights to Bast’s memoir. So far, Guido has written the biopic’s script, met up with potential producers, and is in the process of casting.
In William Bast’s memoir, he wrote about meeting the Indiana native at the UCLA Theater when he was 19. The two supposedly evolved from roommates to lovers. The screenwriter made allegations that the two kept their relationship private to protect the young actor’s career. Audiences will get a glimpse of their evolving relationship and Bast coming to terms with his sexuality in the 1950s.
While there’s no financing yet for Surviving James Dean, Guy Guido is confident he’ll find the right fit. He explained to THR why it was important he bring this privately reported love story to the big screen:
“I have been a fan and historian of James Dean since I was 18 years old, so I knew about his ‘friend’ Willie, even when information about their relationship was straight-washed by the Hollywood machine,” said Guido. “As a filmmaker, I love telling the story of a celebrity’s life in their coming-of-age period. As a gay man, I was particularly drawn to Bast’s unique story.”
What other biopics are there about James Dean?
Many have told the life of James Dean on the big screen. In fact, one of William Bast’s first novels about the East of Eden actor, James Dean: A Biography, got the film treatment in 1976 about his and the actor’s friendship.
There’s also 1997’s James Dean: Race with Destiny which focuses on his love story with Italian actress Pier Angeli. In 2001, James Franco earned a Golden Globe playing the young actor in the TV biopic about Dean’s career.
Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean explores the American actor’s bisexuality and personal life before becoming an actor. Last but not least, 2015’s Life starred The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s Dane DeHaan as Dean centered on his friendship with Life photographer Dennis Stock (played by Robert Pattinson).
These previous biopics may have centered on the Giant actor’s career and the personal friendships he had. However, it looks like Guy Guido’s biopic will show audiences a different aspect of the famed actor’s life that was not fully explored before on the big screen.
Carly Levy
Carly Levy is movie news writer born and raised in South Florida. As a hardcore cinephile, her Mount Rushmore of film directors includes Wes Anderson, John Carney, James Cameron, and Robert Wise. She has a knack for analyzing every movie she sees and isn't afraid to voice her thoughts on it.
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