Jeff Buckley Doc Reveals Why a Biopic Starring Brad Pitt Was Nixed by the Musician’s Mom: ‘You’re Going to Open Your Mouth and Jeff’s Voice Is Going to Come Out?’

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Since the late ’90s, movie creators have been trying to capture the extraordinary tale of Jeff Buckley, an incredibly talented and influential musician, whose life was tragically cut short when he drowned in a Memphis river at the age of 30 in May 1997.

In 2000, Brad Pitt sought out Mary Guibert, mother of Buckley, and asked her to lunch at his Los Feliz residence. Later, she was also included in the exclusive guest list for his wedding to Jennifer Aniston. It wasn’t difficult to persuade her when he requested to produce a biopic based on her son, the renowned troubled singer-songwriter, famous for his exceptional rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.

Suppose twenty individuals are trying to reach you, and one of them happens to be Brad Pitt. Who would you choose to meet up with?” Guibert chuckles.

However, Guibert harbored doubts concerning Pitt’s suitability, or any actor in general, for portraying her sole offspring.

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Guibert had reservations about Pitt playing the part of her child, just as she would for any other actor.

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It was with uncertainty that Guibert viewed Pitt taking on the role of her one and only child, much like she would for any other actor.

As a film enthusiast, I’d propose this transformation: ‘I’ll tint your locks to a rich brown, pop in some lenses that match the earthy hue, and when you speak, it will sound as if Jeff’s voice is echoing out from within you?’ I suggested to Pitt.

However, she continued communicating with Pitt regarding a possible venture. Later on, director Amy Berg, renowned for documentaries such as “West of Memphis” and the Oscar-nominated “Deliver Us From Evil,” was the first to express interest. She wished to move from documentaries to narrative films for a project involving Buckley. Yet, this proposal also caused Guibert to hesitate.

“I didn’t feel secure in being in a someone’s-learning-on-the-job situation,” she says.

Fortunately, after Guibert granted access, Berg experienced a sudden realization regarding her son’s archive: A documentary was the ideal way to honor Buckley. Consequently, Berg shifted focus towards “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley,” which Pitt executive produced. (Pitt played a role in digitizing and preserving all of Buckley’s possessions as well.) The world premiere of this documentary takes place at Sundance on January 24th.

As I delved into his voicemails, DAP player recordings, demos, and journals, I found myself unable to conceive of any other format but a documentary for his story. I simply couldn’t fathom how one could imitate Jeff in a scripted manner.

In essence, Buckley was somewhat of a mystery. Raised in Orange County, California, he was the offspring of renowned folk and jazz artist Tim Buckley. However, their biological father, Tim Buckley, deserted him before his birth, and they met only once. Tragically, Tim Buckley passed away from a heroin overdose at the age of 28 in 1975.

Similar to his father, Jeff Buckley’s life was cut short before fully realizing his full artistic potential. His career took off rapidly, playing at iconic New York clubs like CBGB and eventually securing a high-profile deal with Columbia Records. He shared the stage with some of the era’s top acts such as Soundgarden, as well as musical legends from the past like Led Zeppelin. However, Guibert reveals that her son was uncomfortable with fame and shocked to be featured on People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful list. The expectation to produce a follow-up to his only album — the critically acclaimed “Grace,” praised by Bob Dylan and David Bowie as one of the greatest artistic accomplishments ever — proved overwhelming at times. He developed a strong dislike for the Columbia executives who urged him to release a second album prematurely, pushing him to the brink of a temporary mental breakdown.

Even his death was shrouded in mystery and misdirection.

About two months following the discovery of his remains, Rolling Stone ran an extensive piece delving into the last days of this individual. Gene Bowen, the tour manager, consented to grant a reporter access to the story under the condition that the autopsy findings of the subject, named Buckley, were included in the publication.

Berg states they never carried out the action. Bowen believed this lack of action might have played a role in Jeff’s tragic demise, which was untrue. In reality, Buckley wasn’t responsible for Jeff’s death; he was simply caught in a powerful rip current.

The documentary titled ‘It’s Never Over’ disproves a common misconception, providing insight into Jeff Buckley’s artistic accomplishments. Notably, Aimee Mann and Ben Harper are among those who contribute their personal experiences with the musician whose music transcended traditional genres.

It seems like Berg and Pitt are reuniting again, this time for a documentary about the late Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. This collaboration brings a sense of completion since Buckley and Cornell were good friends, and there might even be old footage of them together in the film titled “It’s Never Over.” Although his career was short-lived, he remains anything but forgotten. A new audience has been introduced to him, appreciating his genuine guitar skills – a timeless star for today’s digital era.

Berg remarks that one of Jeff Buckley’s unique qualities is that you tend to discover him when it’s fitting, and this rings true. To his surprise, Jeff Buckley has garnered significant attention on TikTok, with a larger following associated with the #JeffBuckley tag than even Bob Dylan. Clearly, Buckley is experiencing a resurgence in modern pop culture.

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2025-01-23 19:19