A James Dean biopic is in the works, tackling the personal life of the legendary Hollywood screen actor throughout his short 5 year career.

Filmmaker Guy Guido (‘Madonna And The Breakfast Club’) has acquired the rights to William Bast's 2006 memoir ‘Surviving James Dean,’ with plans of adapting the book into a biopic. Guido is currently in talks with multiple producers as the film does not yet have financing. The director is also searching for talent to play Dean and Bast.

The film will largely show Dean’s relationship with Bast, stemming from a UCLA theater program at the age of 19. The pair became roommates and eventually lovers according to Bast, claiming they kept their relationship private to avoid harming Dean’s career.

James Dean died in a car accident in 1955 at the age of 24. Over the course of 5 years, Dean starred in 8 films including ‘Fixed Bayonets!,’ ‘Sailor Beware,’ ‘Deadline – U.S.A.,’ ‘Has Anybody Seen My Gal?,’ ‘Trouble Along the Way,’ and ‘East of Eden,’ with his most famous films ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ and 'Giant’ being released posthumously. Out of the eight films, Dean only had three leading roles.

On February 8, 1960, Dean was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a motion-picture star at 1719 Vine Street.

“I have been a fan and historian of James Dean since I was 18 years old, so I knew about his ‘friend’ Willie, even when information about their relationship was straight-washed by the Hollywood machine,” Guido says in a statement. “As a filmmaker, I love telling the story of a celebrity’s life in their coming-of-age period. As a gay man, I was particularly drawn to Bast’s unique story.”

Actor James Franco previously played Dean in the 2001 TV movie ‘James Dean,' which received praise from critics and audiences.

MORE NEWS