Viggo once again - 'On The Road'

Looks like Viggo is on another 'road' movie. This one he will play a character called 'Old Bull Lee' I'm still trying to get used to the 'old' part but since I don't know the story I am sure he chose to do it for good reasons and I don't know the story at all. Maybe someone here will come forward and enlighten us.




From here I found the following: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iqcKNN1fNPK6XJxUPdf-m1t5CE5A and a very handsome picture.



Viggo On The Road with Coppola
(UKPA) – Aug 5, 2010

Viggo Mortensen is to star in Francis Ford Coppola's movie adaptation of Jack Kerouac's influential novel On The Road.

Coppola has been working for 30 years to bring the Beat Generation classic to the big screen and now Deadline Hollywood reports Viggo has joined the production to play Old Bull Lee, the character based on William Burroughs in the semi-autobiographical novel.

Amy Adams has signed up to play his wife Jane, an emotionally-damaged junkie mother of two children.

Walter Salles is to direct the film, and shooting is due to begin this month.

Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart, Control star Sam Riley and Tron: Legacy's Garrett Hedlund are also due to star in the film.

The script has been written by Jose Rivera, who worked with Salles on The Motorcycle Diaries. Coppola and Rebecca Yeldham are producing.

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

I have heard about it too but I know nothing about the film.

Thanks for showing the article to us, Aithne.

You're welcome, Vigs. Now I wonder if you will go all out for us here and find some information on the story and 'lead' us all in discussion. We would be ever so grateful.

I'm so excited about this film, and especially that VIGGO! is William Burroughs! Have you guys ever heard of a book called Naked Lunch? WB is the author of that book, plus countless others. I can tell you guys mountains of info on this book and the characters, On the Road. I did a study in college and a few papers about it (and had a bestie that was as into them as I was) - Kerouac (the author) and his friends and associates were finally coined "the Beat Poets and Writers". They started in America in the 1950's. Don't be offended that Viggo's character is called Old Bull Lee, because his REAL name was William Burroughs. Jack Kerouac (Sal in the movie/book) called him that as a pseudonym. He used pseudonyms for all his friends and William Burroughs was probably the eldest cool person that Jack/Sal knew at the time.

William Burroughs is not the lead character in Kerouac's books but rest assured we will see a lot of him!

A few interesting/entertaining facts about William Burroughs (Old Bull Lee) 2/5/1914 - 8/2/1997:
- He is known as the Godfather of the Punk movement (music, way of life)
- He was an American novelist, poet, essayist, painter and spoken word performer
- He is one of the most culturally influential and innovative artists of the 20th century
- Lifelong heroin addict and alcoholic. (this is impressive as he lived such a long full life)
- Was the "first person famous for things that you were supposed to hide" - John Waters
- Accidentally killed his second wife while drunk, he was playing "William Tell". He was supposed to shoot an apple off of her head, and shot her in the head and killed her. They had one child together.
- Later in life made it public that he was homosexual.
- Claimed that the death of his wife, Joan, was the only reason he started to write.
"I am forced to the appalling conclusion that I would never have become a writer but for Joan's death, and to a realization of the extent to which this event has motivated and formulated my writing. I live with the constant threat of possession, and a constant need to escape from possession, from control. So the death of Joan brought me in contact with the invader, the Ugly Spirit, and maneuvered me into a life long struggle, in which I have had no choice except to write my way out." - this is a sample of his work.
- Was a friend of many other influential people, including Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg.
- William Burroughs died of a heart attack in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1997 at the age of 83, surrounded by cats.

If this kind of people sounds interesting to you, my best advice is to go buy Word Virus, a compendium of the entire lifespan of works by WB. It was the last book to be published before he died, and was approved by him.

Great work Viggo!!! This is the second time Viggo has begun a film project on books that I love and hold dear!!! (the first being LOTR). Keep up being a hero, in my opinion

Thanks Phaedrak! (I have to get used to write your name correct).
I didn't know that!

Quote :

- He was an American novelist, poet, essayist, painter and spoken word performer

Then I better understand why this part is Viggos. As I don't know the story I wondered for a while who that Old Bull Lee was. Viggo doesn't need to pretend being a painter, poet and spoken word performer because he is all 3 himself.

I'll do what I can to find more! But the rest of you is welcome to search for more news too!