Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis’ autobiography, Scar Tissue, and is planning to release a biopic based on the book. According to reports, the studio is currently in the early stages of development, with Kiedis set to co-produce alongside Brian Grazer through Imagine Entertainment and Guy Oseary. However, details including the director and cast are yet to be announced.
In his 2004 memoir, Kiedis writes candidly about his complicated relationship with his father, both of their drug addictions, the death of founding Chili Peppers guitarist Hillel Slovak from a heroin overdose, and how he and Flea, the band’s bassist, kept the band going, among other things. As per the statement from Universal Pictures, the biopic will present a “shockingly candid portrait of an artist, addict, and ringleader.”
Kiedis expressed regrets about writing the memoir in the past, acknowledging that it had caused pain to some people. However, he also confirmed that he was delighted that people were reading it in hospitals, prisons, and schools, and that it was having a positive impact. He said the book showed that “somebody can go all the way down and come all the way back and have a productive, successful, happy, interesting life.”
In 2022, Red Hot Chili Peppers released two albums, both of which featured guitarist John Frusciante’s return to the band. Unlimited Love received a four-star rating from NME, while its follow-up, Return of the Dream Canteen, got a three-star rating. In an interview with the publication, Flea discussed the difficulty of parting ways with Josh Klinghoffer to make room for Frusciante, but stated that artistically they were now able to communicate more effectively once again.
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