Brad Pitt turned down by Jeff Buckley's mother for biopic role

Brad Pitt initially pursued a Jeff Buckley biopic but later supported a documentary about his legacy.

Brad Pitt initially sought permission from Jeff Buckley’s mother, Mary Guibert, to star in a biopic about the late musician nearly two decades ago.

Guibert granted him permission in 2000, shortly after Pitt’s wedding to Jennifer Aniston, but later changed her mind. In a recent interview at the Sundance Film Festival, Guibert explained why she ultimately decided against the biopic.

Reflecting on Pitt’s interest in the project, Guibert humorously recalled asking, "We're going to dye your hair, put brown contact lenses on those baby blues, and you're going to open your mouth and Jeff's voice is going to come out?" Her concerns led her to abandon the idea of a biographical film, although she and Pitt maintained contact over the years.

Instead, Guibert chose to produce a documentary about her son, who passed away at age 30 in 1997. The documentary, titled It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend. Pitt played an important role in preserving Buckley’s personal belongings and helped digitize them for the project.

Directed by Amy Berg, the documentary aims to shed light on Buckley’s legacy, including his iconic album Grace and his cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. The film also addresses the circumstances surrounding his death, which has been surrounded by speculation. Berg emphasized that Buckley’s death by drowning in the Mississippi River was not related to an overdose, contrary to some rumors.

The documentary reflects Guibert and Berg’s shared vision of honoring Buckley’s life and artistry. It offers fans an intimate look at his life and legacy, preserving his memory for future generations.