Morrissey biopic finds lead in War and Peace actor Jack Lowden

The film will be set in the run-up to The Smiths' formation  

Jacob Stolworthy
Friday 18 March 2016 16:46 GMT
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Jack Lowden will play Morrissey in new biopic
Jack Lowden will play Morrissey in new biopic

Considering the icon Morrissey has become over the years, it's a wonder it's taken this long for a biopic of the prolific singer-songwriter to get made.

The one confirmed to tackle the role is Jack Lowden, an Olivier award-winning actor most recently seen in the BBC's large-scale adaptation of War and Peace.

Simply called Steven (his real name being Steven Patrick Morrissey), the film will be set prior to the formation of The Smiths in 1982 focused on his teenage years in the lead up to his collaboration with guitarist Johnny Marr.

Morrissey, who has been a solo musician since The Smiths disbanded in 1987, co-wrote such esteemed hits as "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out", "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and "Panic."

Steven will be directed by first-timer Mark Gill who co-wrote the script alongside William Thacker (not Hugh Grant's Notting Hill character) whom he worked alongside on 2014 Oscar-nominated short The Voorman Problem.

Lowden won the Olivier award for his role in play Ghosts. He recently broke into films having starred in Yann Demange's thriller '71 alongside Jack O'Connell. He is reportedly in talks to star in Christopher Nolan's WWII drama Dunkirk alongside newcomer Fionn Whitehead and One Direction singer Harry Styles.

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