Steven Patrick Morrissey, usually known as justMorrissey, is finally getting thebiopictreatment. AndJessica Brown Findlayhas landed akey rolein this drama. The actress is best known for playing Lady Sybil Crawley on the hitPBSseriesDownton Abbey. Mark Gill will direct.
Stevenfollows the early life of the iconic British musician. Jack Lowden is playingMorrisseyin this story that tracks Steven in the1970s, before he became the lead singer of influential 80s band The Smith. Jessica Brown Findlay is playing English visual artist, performance artist and musician Linder Sterling. From Liverpool, she became a very close friend of Steven’s.
Director Mark Gill co-wrote the screenplay with William Thacker. The duo also collaborated on the 2014 Oscar-nominated short film The Voorman Problem. HanWay is handling sales on the project, with Entertainment One taking distribution rights in the UK. Production will begin on Steven this April in England.
Affectionately known as the ‘Pope of Mope’, Manchester native Steven Patrick Morrissey and Johnny Marr co-founded The Smiths in 1982. Steven will show what happened before this period of time, shining new light on the awkward teenage years ofMorrisseyas he tried to escape his dead-end existence and build a legend. The movie will also show the songwriting partnership he had with Johnny Marr. Before The Smiths broke up in 1987, the group sold millions of records worldwide. In the late 80s,Morrisseywould go onto have a very successful solo career.
Steven is being produced by Orian Williams and Baldwin Li. Along with her role inDownton Abbey, Jessica Brown Findlay has made a name for herself as one of the U.K.’s most exciting new actresses. She has also appeared inVictor Frankensteinand The Riot Club, and is still attached toThe Crowremake, which has been indefinitely delayed. It’s likely that the actress will have to bail on that comic book adaption. She will next be seen in This Beautiful Fantastic.
