HOLLYWOOD – Ron Perlman has confirmed he will play Tom Waits in the long awaited David Lynch biopic of the singer/songwriter Raindog Trombone.
The Hellboy actor said that Waits has long been a hero of his and the opportunity to work with Lynch was ‘something every actor dreams of.’
The script – based on Barney Hoskins’ biography The Low Side of the Road – has been kicking around development hell for sometime, with various directors from Walter Salles to Martin Scorsese attached. Lynch came on-board only after the subject of the biopic made the request himself in a beautifully written letter which read:
Dear David,
My name’s Tom Waits. I kinda hope you heard of me, heh heh. Yeah, ahem, I know, I know. You must get letters of this kind all the time, but let me be clear, I ain’t gonna grouse or grovel, gravel and chickens and an ol’ 45 as a plate outside the window fills with rain. They’re tryin’ to get a movie made, of crows breaking black against a low November sky. And I’d sure appreciate it, that is, if’n you’d put your hand to the helm and try and get this rickety ol’ ship of a project off of the blunt rocks before the scarecrows attack with their penknives and tattoos of weeping clowns. I’ll pay you five gallons of petrol and a valentine nailed to the forehead of the last lawyer you loved.
Yours in a nightmare’s gown,
T. Waits
David Lynch’s reply read:
Dear Tom,
Cut the bullshit and tell me how much I’m going to get paid.
Best Wishes
David
I want to see this movie so bad I can taste it.
I can’t wait either!! Perlman should be perfect for the road.
Oh come on, just release Big Time on DVD/Blu-Ray and free Lynch up to rescue agent Cooper from BOB!
Perlman – Waits – Lynch – THAT is a dream ticket. I need to see it now before Seth Rogen gets the gig on a sympathy ticket.
Crawlin’ on ma’ belly … shakin’ like jelly!!
Can’t wait … zoobee abba zabba!!
I can’t think of a better, more fitting person to play Tom Waits in a movie as Ron Perlman!!! Waits has been my favorite since I discovered him in 1972!! “Gassed her up, behind the wheel, my arm around my sweet one in my Oldsmobile, barrellin down the BLVD lookin for the “HEART OF SATUDAY NIGHT” can’t WAIT till it comes out!!!!
We got it half right
If David Lynch ever makes a movie starring Tom Waits & Snoop Dogg, Kassy Key & the Raindoggs would be the soundtrack
Just hope Kanye doesnt buy up the rights and do it as a hiphop opera staring Beyonce!
call me crazy, but I think Jim Jarmush would be more fitting as a director for this project.
TOTALMENTE DE ACUERDO
I get why for obvious reasons, but can’t wait to see D.L’s version/vision.
(Ideally would like to see both)
Yeah … I dont think this Phantom Philm is going anywhere near those cold lonely crossroads. Too bad.
Ron Perlman is a year younger than Tom Waits, an artist whose career spans five decades. If you’re not going to get an actor in their thirties, why not just cast Waits in the lead role?
Exactly what I was thinking! I love Ron Perlman, but Tom would be amazing playing himself.
Exactly…. Why not the REAL Thing?
Barney’s book was unauthorized, but he set the record straight on some of Tom’s self-created mythologies. His interviews with Letterman are classic, someone should compile them…. Dave?
Tom should be on Inside the Actor’s Studio, he’s gone toe to toe with a lot of great actors.
As much as he was influenced by Dylan, I think the tables turned and Bob’s morphed into Tom.
I’ve read all these comments. My thoughts:
1. Several actors, similar to the Bob Dylan movie about 10 years ago all portraying him. I never saw it, but the idea was brilliant. Ron Perlman can portray T.W. 2000- Present.
2. A Bio about T.W. is less about capturing the image, and more importantly about the spirit that drives him to soar and explore.
3. Tom’s a Christian at his center. Unlike many Christians, he doesn’t beat you over the head with his faith, but let’s you discover it through his songs.
Good Luck with this undertaking. You’ve taken on quite a subject. I’m first in line at the boxoffice if you can pull it through.
Charlie Angel
I hope they have a scene in the movie of the time Tom came into my store ( Neptoon Records) and put all the Tom Waits records in the front of every row, with out the staff noticing, just before leaving the store.
Why ooh Why isn’t Tom playing himself? The man is a friggin’ gun of an actor, don’t believe me, watch Dr Panesse … and he doesn’t even have to act, just be himself.
Always new Ron Perlman is Tom’s
twin-brother. 😉
Great choice…..!
So… will this film ever be made or has it already gone down to development hell?
First of all, to all of you asking why Tom isn’t playing himself—subjects do not play themselves in biopics. Tom is a very good actor, but it would be disasterous for him to play himself; especially younger. For those of you saying he wouldn’t even have to act, just be himslef. Playing yourself, as any actor that has ACTUALLY played themselves, i.e., their real identity, name, life, etc., say it is the hardest thing they have done…and it usually tanks. Ron Pealman has the look, and IS a very good actor, but does not have the depth or versatility to play Tom Waits.
This is hilarious! I love the letters. Excellent satire, folks!
I love Ron Perlman. This man can act. He will do this movie justice it deserves. I love to hear this man laugh a really good belly laugh too. I will be first in line to see this. Lynch the director? He’s a hella of an actor. I search out his films to see. Tom, the man the movie is about? What more do you people want? Stop your crappy opinions. This is perfect. Get going and get it made.
I meant Lynch is a hella of a director. How I screwed that up I don’t know. This man is super talented. I watch ever movie he makes. Come on complainers. you just want to read your crap online. Just cut it out. this is a great meeting of three great men ready to make a great movie so shut up and wait for greatness.
waits asks for someone filming someone as him (Pearls)????????? he’s alive and acting in many movies! Play yourself, BE YRSELF TOM, U MORON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lynch only for cash here
who is going to play the younger Tom Waits? Perlman would need a load of makeup to pull that off. so would Tom Waits.
his daughter
You know what would be good, Pearlman plays waits. Then down the line , waits can play pearlman in a story about his life. It’s a win win!