Russell Crowe to direct comedian Bill Hicks biopic

Russell Crowe will be directing a biopic based on the life of the renowned American stand-up comedian Bill Hicks, who had a huge following in the UK. He died of cancer at the age of 32.

Russell Crowe will be directing a biopic based on the life of the renowned American stand-up comedian Bill Hicks, who had a huge following in the UK. He died of cancer at the age of 32.

Russell-Crowe-poses-at-the-event-AP

Crowe has teamed up with his friend Mark Staufer, who wrote the script for the production, which begins early in 2013, per a report in The Telegraph.

Previously attached to the project in the starring role, Crowe bowed out to focus on directing. The iconoclastic Hicks was a comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician, whose material covered society, religion, politics and philosophy.

Crowe also directed a short film to be included in Sydney Unplugged, a film with other pieces directed by actors Toni Collette, Anthony LaPaglia, Alex Proyas and Liev Schreiber.

Last seen in Robin Hood and The Last Three Days in 2010, Crowe will be featured in several upcoming films including The Man with the Iron Fists, set in China and directed by rapper RZA and costarring Jamie Chung and Lucy Liu, due in November in limited release.