The story of the legendary British fashion designer is in the works
Update:
The question of who would play Alexander 'Lee' McQueen in the upcoming Andrew Haigh-directed biopic has been the fashion industry casting equivalent of the big James Bond mystery. Variety have finally laid rumours to rest, announcement that British actor-on-the-rise, Jack O’Connell will play the late, great McQueen.
Skins fans will recognise O'Connell as 'Cook' from the epic, teen angsty E4 series, and will therefore know how capable he is at playing the loveable rogue type. His recent critically acclaimed roles in Unbroken and Money Monster have propelled him into the 'serious actor' category, but whether Alexander McQueen fans will agree remains to be seen.
Based on Andrew Wilson's excellent biography, Blood Beneath the Skin, filming of the adaptation will start next spring, with a forecasted release date in winter 2017.
On January 25 we wrote:
A biopic on legendary British fashion designer Alexander McQueen looks set to be made soon. The film about the life of Lewisham-born fashion pioneer McQueen is being created by the maker of Oscar-nominated drama 45 Years - British film-maker Andrew Haigh.
Producer Damian Jones (who is overseeing the big-screen adaptation of Dad's Army) is also on board, with playwright Chris Urch (whose latest work Rolling Stone has just started its run in London's West End) reportedly on scriptwriting duty, according to The Independent.
Lee Alexander McQueen founded the luxury British label Alexander McQueen in 1992, and quickly gained traction in the fashion world for his controversial designs and dark, lavish catwalk shows. As well as the many popular designs from his own label (which are still favoured by stars like Naomi Campbell, Victoria Beckham and Kate Middleton, who famously wore a wedding dress by the label in 2011), McQueen also established himself as a formidable fashion force with fashion power-house Givenchy, working as their chief designer from 1996-2000.
McQueen's work was famed for being disturbing and freakish, and he often tried to push the boundaries of taste on the catwalk. The designer also dressed David Bowie for his '90s musical tour, and earned four British Designer of the Year awards for his contribution to fashion. He tragically committed suicide in 2010 at the age of forty after a life-long battle with depression.
Although no details have been given as to when the biopic will hit out screens, the film will follow a recent popular West End play which charted McQueen's turbulent life and career, and the 2011 Channel 4 documentary McQueen And I which profiled his rocky relationship with fashionista, friend and muse, Isabella Blow.
