Johnny Thunders Biopic on the Way from Jonas Åkerlund

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Nov 10, 2016

After being tapped to direct the Mayhem-centred film Lords of Chaos last month, Jonas Åkerlund will find himself in the director's chair for an upcoming biopic on New York Dolls and Heartbreakers guitarist Johnny Thunders.

Adapted from Nina Antonia's 1987 biography Johnny Thunders: In Cold Blood, the currently untitled production will feature a script written by Chloë Caro, Ada Guerin and Nina Antonia. Jim Agnew and David Hilary have been named as executive producers, with production beginning early next year.

Born John Anthony Genzale Jr. in 1952, the Queens, NY, native rose to prominence as a member of the New York Dolls before later playing with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist. Thunders passed away in April of 1991 of what were believed to be drug-related causes, though foul play was heavily suspected.

Åkerlund has been recognized for his music video work with likes of Roxette, the Prodigy, Madonna, Blink-182, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. He has also collaborated with Beyoncé, for both her 2013 self-titled visual album and this year's Lemonade. On top of that, Akerlund lent his directorial expertise to Jay Z and Beyoncé's On the Run Tour concert film for HBO in 2014, along with Taylor Swift's Apple-exclusive The 1989 World Tour Live concert documentary last year.
 
Åkerlund's last feature film arrived with Small Apartments in 2012.

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