Merle Haggard Biopic Movie Acquired by Amazon
Amazon has acquired the rights to a biopic film based off the life of Merle Haggard to be directed by Robin Bissell, and to be written by Bissell and Merle Haggard’s widow, Theresa Haggard. Actor Sam Rockwell, who has played numerous high profile roles including winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his part in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is currently being strongly considered to play Merle, and will do his own singing of Haggard standards in the movie.
The biopic will be based on the Merle Haggard memoir Sing Me Back Home, with much of the picture to be centered around the 60’s, and the tumultuous time in Merle’s life when many of the most iconic moments in his career occurred, including escaping from local jails 17 times and ending up in San Quentin Prison in California where he saw Johnny Cash play and became inspired to pursue country music himself.
According to Deadline, the film will follow Haggard as he begins his career trying to break away from his convict past, hiding it at first as he cut his teeth in Bakersfield, signing to Capitol Record, a complicated love affair with Bonnie Owens, and eventually ascending into country music stardom where he became one of the most important and influential country artists of all time.
Director Robin Bissell and actor Sam Rockwell recently worked together on the 2019 film The Best of Enemies. This is not the only Merle Haggard biopic that has been reported to be in the works. In 2016, a biopic called Done It All written by screenwriter Cliff Hollingsworth was announced as being developed in part by a man named Carl Cooper, who was hand-selected by Haggard to develop it with Hollingsworth. But there hasn’t been any news about that film project since then.
Often biopic films will be announced, but then stall at some point in the process as funding, studios, or other resources look to be secured. Also in 2016, two separate biopic films were announced covering the life of George Jones, neither of which has been released. However by securing a partnership with Amazon, this gives the Merle Haggard biopic some extra hope.
Merle Haggard died on April 6th, his 79th birthday, after suffering from complications due to a double pneumonia. The Country Music Hall of Famer had a total of 38 #1 hits, growing up in a house constructed from a boxcar, and his father dying when he was 9-years-old.
July 28, 2020 @ 8:36 am
I don’t usually like the idea of streaming only movies but if Sam Rockwell is playing Merle I’m all in.
July 28, 2020 @ 12:21 pm
This won’t necessarily be “streaming only.” Amazon has produced and distributed a handful of award nominated and award winning movies with normal theatrical runs. Off the top of my head – The Big Sick and Manchester By the Sea (which one a bunch of Oscars).
If this hasn’t even started filming yet it won’t be released for at least another year and that assumes the producers have cooperation from the rights holders of the music itself – which can take a lot of effort to clear and delay musical biopics like this indefinitely. If it all turns out well and Amazon’s confident about the quality of the movie, there’s no reason to think this won’t be out in theaters in a couple years (long after the pandemic’s done, fingers crossed).
December 7, 2021 @ 4:43 pm
I am anxious to see this film of Merle. My husband was a musician who was hired to play for one of Merle’s road bands, the hype of his career. From what I understand. Merle was the only musician that had Road bands that would travel all over to play his songs. Merle and others would show up from time to time.
July 28, 2020 @ 8:41 am
I thought to myself I hope they get Rockwell to play him while opening the article. Think he’ll do the role justice.
July 28, 2020 @ 9:54 am
Nothing to get excited about. Remember how they fucked up the movie about Hank?
July 28, 2020 @ 10:21 am
Remember how nobody close to Hank was apart of the process?
July 28, 2020 @ 11:15 am
Yeah, judging country music biopics off that one is a pretty low bar. “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Walk The Line” proved it can be done right. Don’t see any reason not to remain positive until something makes us think otherwise. It’s also still very early on in the process.
July 29, 2020 @ 5:53 am
Sweet Dreams about Patsy Cline, too. Love that one.
July 29, 2020 @ 8:59 am
Never saw the Hank biopic.was it really that bad?what a shame THAT story wasn’t done justice.I would like a Willie Nelson movie in theaters one day.
July 29, 2020 @ 9:09 pm
Two Hank Williams biopics have been made, and neither one is worth all that much.
July 31, 2020 @ 2:03 pm
Walk the Line was alright for a Hollywood picture.
July 28, 2020 @ 10:03 am
Could be a good movie. They’re right to make it about the early years, when Haggard’s music was original and timeless. The question is at what point in his life to cut it off. I’d end it in 1973, when he played for Nixon at the White House, just as the Watergate scandal started to unfold. Reportedly–and not surprisingly–Nixon knew nothing about his music and just wanted to hear “Okie” and “Fightin’ Side.”
July 28, 2020 @ 10:07 am
Sam Rockwell?
Or Sam Countrywell?
July 28, 2020 @ 10:59 am
Man, I need this. It has the potential to be really well done. Merle is on my personal Mt. Rushmore of musical influences and is, in my opinion, the single greatest and most well rounded country artist of all time.
When he was in his prime, he was the penultimate combination of everything good in country music that came before him and eventually became the standard that artists who came after him tried to emulate for the next two decades.
July 28, 2020 @ 3:30 pm
And who’s the ultimate combination? Dwight?
July 28, 2020 @ 4:20 pm
Ah, sookie 😉
July 30, 2020 @ 10:32 am
OK, so who was the ultimate combination? Conway Twitty?
July 28, 2020 @ 1:20 pm
[insert the inevitable “could you please review the new Taylor Swift album” comment] 😂
July 28, 2020 @ 3:29 pm
When you consider what an incredible life he’s had, it’s amazing that there haven’t been at least 10 movies already made about him.
July 29, 2020 @ 4:18 am
And maybe that damn Ben Haggard album will finally drop…
July 29, 2020 @ 5:55 am
I don’t usually go for biopics, but I love Merle and Sam Rockwell is ridiculously talented. I’m in.
July 29, 2020 @ 6:19 am
I wouldn’t know Sam Rockwell from an alligator- so, I did an image search- he has the eyes for sure. If they do a lot of close ups it could make it or break it.
July 29, 2020 @ 6:53 am
I made my first record when I was eleven and recorded the song my house of memories the great ernest tubb let me sing on his Saturday night jamboree since that time I have opened shows for merle haggard the first time was in 1978 in Douglass Geoegia merle was late getting to the show he told me he broke his tooth eating a hot dog. He thanked me for holding the crowd for over hours..my while life I’ve center5my music around merle, I been singing with Loretta Lynn since 1979 loretta calls me kim..I talked to merle about if they ever made a film about his life that I could do it, he said get in touch with Carter de haven..all my guitars are signed by merle and loretta., who ever reads this I would love the opportunity to audition for this role in playing Merle Haggard.. go on you tube type in Loretta lynn and kim hilton to see and hear me sing
July 29, 2020 @ 12:49 pm
Gotta hold my breath on that one. It’s hit and miss w/ country music scripts and Merle’s muse hasn’t always lined up with what they in Hollywood. If any American’s story deserves a truly great movie, it’s Hag.
July 29, 2020 @ 9:14 pm
There was supposed to be a film about Charley Pride 15 or 20 years ago. Never saw neither hide nor hair of it. His would also be a great story to see. I sure hope this Hag movie gets released.
July 30, 2020 @ 5:07 pm
I do think this will be good, with Sam Rockwell in there. He is a chameleon and really good actor. Also key that Theresa Haggard is involved and betting the whole family will join in for the music. Should be awesome soundtrack!!
July 31, 2020 @ 2:04 pm
Walk the Line wasn’t too bad for a Hollywood picture.