Shailene Woodley to star and produce Janis Joplin biopic

The biography of the '60s rock legend Janis Joplin, who died in 1970 at 27, has not yet been adapted for the screen. There were numerous attempts, with talks involving stars like Amy Adams or Pink. Ultimately, nothing materialized. Now, thanks to the support of the California Film Commission and a grant of $2.49 million, the project is gaining new life. In addition to her role as producer, Shailene Woodley will also portray Joplin.

The famous singer's biography project qualified for the California Film Commission's Film & Television program, securing funding for production costs exceeding $10 million. Filming will last 30 days, and the movie is set to be shot in California to ensure the authenticity of the locations associated with Joplin.

Fans and industry insiders hope that the project will successfully pay proper homage to the life and work of the music legend. Shailene Woodley, expressing her gratitude for the support, conveyed her belief that Janis Joplin would be pleased to see how her story contributes to the development of California. "I have a feeling that Janis would be smiling from ear to ear in her psychedelic Porsche, knowing that her story provides development opportunities and funds to the city and people who were so important to her," the star shared.

Janis Joplin left an incredible legacy, marking her place in music history as one of the most distinctive artists of her generation. Her life was full of successes and dramas, which continue to inspire new generations. She was born on January 19, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas.

Janis was fascinated by African-American music, which further distinguished her in the local community. Her interest in blues and regular visits to clubs where white people rarely ventured met with misunderstanding and negative reactions from her surroundings.

When she graduated from high school in 1960, Janis moved to study at Lamar State College of Technology in Beaumont and then to the University of Texas at Austin. There, she began experimenting with alcohol and drugs and actively participated in the local music scene. Her vocal expression was unprecedented, especially among white vocalists. Inspired by artists like Lead Belly and Bessie Smith, Janis dreamed of making music that would touch the hearts of her listeners.

In 1962, she recorded the song "What Good Can Drinkin’ Do" for the first time, but professional success came a few years later when she moved to San Francisco. There, she joined the hippie community and began performing with the band Big Brother and the Holding Company. These early career days were intense development, but many personal problems accompanied Janis throughout her life.

Joplin experimented with drugs and was known to take heroin. Janis's addiction began to endanger her life. In the first half of 1969, she was spending about $219 a day on her fix. Before performing at the Woodstock festival on August 17, 1969, Janis got drunk and took a dose of heroin with her lover, Peggy Caserta, resulting in a rather poor performance. A similar situation occurred at Madison Square Garden when she sang in a duet with Tina Turner during a Rolling Stones concert. According to witnesses, Joplin was completely drunk and high.

Between 1969 and 1970, Janis's addiction to alcohol and drugs was very strong. Still, she was aware enough of her problem to attempt rehabilitation by going to Brazil to recover in a warm, exotic country. In late summer and early fall 1970, Janis was working on her next album.

The last people to see Janis alive were her keyboardist, Ken Pearson, and the receptionist at the hotel where she stayed during recording sessions. After working in the studio, she drank with Pearson, drove her friend back, and returned to the Landmark Hotel in Hollywood, Room 105. There, on Sunday, October 4, at about 1:00 AM ET, she took a dose of drugs she had bought that same day. She didn't know it was China White heroin – a very pure and strong variant. She overdosed. It had happened to her several times before, but someone was always around to help her. This time, she was alone. She died 16 days after another great artist who fundamentally influenced the world of popular music, Jimi Hendrix. He, too, like Janis, was 27 years old.