Richard Linklater To Write And Direct Biopic On Comedian Bill Hicks

Image from Senses of Cinema

By Darian Scalamoni

            It’s always exciting when a big-time director announces their next project. While hearing about up-and-comers is great, when you earn the title of just being called by your last name a-la Spielberg, Scorsese, Tarantino. Well another filmmaker who falls under this category by the name of Linklater has his next movie lined up and it sure is an interesting one.

            According to Collider, Richard Linklater, the mind behind Boyhood will write and direct a movie focusing on the life and career of comedian, Bill Hicks. The controversial stand-up began his comedy in Texas, where Linklater lives, and the director was a huge fan. He was distraught when Hicks passed away at 34 due to cancer as he was rising up the comedic ladder. Rolling Stone recently ranked him at number 13 on their list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all-time.

            Linklater is one of the more diverse directors working today weaving in and out of genres. Some of his work includes Dazed and Confused (which Hicks loved before his death in 1994), the Before trilogy, School of Rock, Everybody Wants Some!! and Last Flag Flying. His upcoming movie, Where’d You Go, Bernadette just wrapped filming and stars Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Judy Greer, Billy Crudup and Laurence Fishburne. It hits theaters on March 22^nd.

            I’m excited to see how Linklater tackles a biopic of someone he seriously admired. It’s obvious that he had a lot of passion for the comedian and seeing the take of a diehard fan could either go spectacularly well or be a problem. However, I have trust in Linklater; now all we can do is wait and see who he casts in the role.