A second film about the life of late, great singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley will begin production this fall — this time with access to Buckley’s entire catalog and archives, thanks to his mother, Mary Guibert. Today, just a few months before the Jake Scott-direct film, producers announced their choice for the lead (a role Brad Pitt unsuccessfully campaigned for years ago): Reeve Carney, a musician and actor perhaps most famous for starring in Bono and the Edge’s Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
“We are excited to have found in Reeve the perfect combination of musical prodigy, impish charm, innate intelligence & sensitivity to play Jeff,” said the director in a statement.
While we can’t yet speak to Carney’s acting abilities — not to mention his alleged “impish charm” and “innate intelligence” — it does appear the kid can sing the part convincingly enough. Nobody could imitate Buckley’s actual vocal performances, I’d say, but if someone were to try, Carney seems like a wise choice. Watch him in action below: