According to an exclusive report by Pajiba, we can add one more potentially epic project to the countless films, poems, music, and art inspired by Bob Dylan’s oeuvre: Screenwriter Jay Cocks (The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York) was handpicked by Dylan himself to pen the script for a film project based on 1986 Knocked Out Loaded cut “Brownsville Girl,” which Dylan composed with help from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright/actor Sam Shepard.
The script, which is reportedly being produced by the team behind Goodfellas and Raging Bull, Winkler Films, is said to be a cross between Bonnie and Clyde and Shawshank Redemption. What’s more, a source told Pajiba’s Dustin Rowles (via the Playlist) that Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper is circling the project and the lead role (allegedly attached to Johnny Depp at one point) has been offered to Brad Pitt.
Though Pitt starring in a Cooper-directed film based on the Dylan-Shepard epic 11-minute song would certainly be awesome, the project is in the very early stages of development, so we won’t hold are breath regarding those specifics. Still, though, here’s hoping they get their ducks in a row for this exciting project. Meanwhile, let’s give the Dylan classic a listen below:
“Brownsville Girl”