Anton Corbijn Sets Up James Dean Biopic, 'Life'

Photographer and music video director Anton Corbijn began his feature film career with the movie Control, which chronicled the life of late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. Corbijn has moved into other arenas, making the arthouse thriller The American with George Clooney and A Most Wanted Man, featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright, Willem Dafoe, and Daniel Brühl in a story about a man caught up in the war on terror.

Now Corbijn is moving back to the biopic arena with a film called Life, which tells the story of the friendship and working relationship between photographer Dennis Stock and actor James Dean.

The Wrap says that Luke Davies (Candy) scripted, and that the film is set in 1955 before Dean's star rose thanks to East of Eden. Here's how the site describes the story:

Photographer Dennis Stock meets undiscovered star James Dean at a party and quickly comes to believe that the free-spirited actor has the potential to personify a social revolution. Beset with guilt from being an estranged parent to his son, Dennis slowly emerges from behind his bravado, spending time with Jimmy in Los Angeles, New York, and Indiana, having been commissioned Life Magazine. The photos would capture a star in the making and provide Dennis with the self-belief to be an international renowned artist.

After The American Corbijn was talking about possibly making only one more film, but he had a different third/final film in mind before making A Most Wanted Man. Whatever changed his attitude about making features, I'm glad that he's sticking around for a while.