Universal Pictures has optioned the rights to Scar Tissue, the 2004 memoir by Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, with plans to turn it into a biopic. Deadline reports the film will be produced by industry vet Brian Grazer through his and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, with Kiedis and Guy Oseary also on board as producers.
Scar Tissue is a warts-and-all page-turner charting the ups, downs and crashes of Keidis’ life with his band, his friendship with Flea and his struggles with drug addiction. There is no shortage of debaucherous rock n’ roll stories, either. No word yet on things like who will be cast as Kiedis or the rest of RHCP, or who will direct or write the screenplay. As they say, stay tuned.
This will be the third attempt at turning Scar Tissue into filmed entertainment; HBO optioned the book for a series in 2008 titled Spider & Son which would focus on Kiedis’ relationship with his father, Blackie Dammett. Acclaimed indie filmmaker John Sayles wrote the pilot, but the project went into turnaround and never happened. FX also tried to turn it into a series in 2011 with Entourage producers Marc Abramson and Mike Benson, but that also never worked out.
Red Hot Chili Peppers will be on tour this year with Kid Cudi, Ice Cube, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Wand and more, not to mention festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Innings, and more.
