Joy Division Story to Hit Big Screen

Rock photographer Anton Cobijn will direct, while Anthony Wilson will be executive producer.

Jan 10 2005

After several false starts, it seems that a biopic of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis will finally roll before cameras later in the year.

At a Manchester press conference Anthony Wilson, former head of the band's label Factory Records, revealed that the film is tentatively titled 'Control', and will be based on 'Touching From A Distance', the book Deborah Curtis wrote about her husband's life.

Ian Curtis was the lead singer of Joy Division before his suicide in 1980, shortly before the band was due to embark to a tour of America.

Though many efforts have been made to bring his story to the big screen through the years, 'Control' marks the first time his family have lent their support to a project.

Wilson himself will executive produce the movie, while rock photographer Anton Corbijn – who has worked with everyone from U2 to Depeche Mode to Joy Division themselves – will direct.

Of the production, Wilson said: 'Whenever Hollywood gets involved in the music industry, the end product is invariably shit. Apart from a few films - '24 Hour Party People' was one of them. I think we've got the right team together to convey the spirit of Ian on film.'

There's no news yet regarding who will play the singer, but casting takes place in March and some 'very established screen actors' have apparently been approached for the part.

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