For years, Hollywood has kicked around various biopics of legends from the 1960s and 1970s. One of those biopics is for Joni Mitchell, who is very much alive and able to contribute to the discussion. That’s probably why Cameron Crowe is on board as writer-director – Crowe is a former Rolling Stone reporter, and he’s one of the few directors who could really do a Joni Mitchell biopic justice. So, now the issue is casting. Who could conceivably play Joni, and would that actress use her real voice or would they just use Joni’s recordings? Well, we have an update.
Sorry, Amanda Seyfried: It sounds like Anya Taylor-Joy and Meryl Streep will play Joni Mitchell in Cameron Crowe’s biopic, according to The InSneider. Rumors say Taylor-Joy will star as the legendary singer-songwriter during her peak years in the ’60s and ’70s while Streep will portray present day Mitchell.
Taylor-Joy most recently acted in February’s The Gorge alongside Miles Teller. Crowe, who profiled Mitchell for a 1979 Rolling Stone cover story, is known for classic films like Almost Famous and Say Anything. He reportedly had been eyeing a March start for production, but the Los Angeles wildfires caused a delay as his home was one of the many affected. It’ll be his first movie since 2012’s Aloha; he attempted to make a Marvin Gaye biopic for years but it never came into fruition. Meanwhile, Mitchell releases the new Joni’s Jazz box set next month.
I’m fine with Meryl as an older Joni, and Meryl is actually a singer/vocalist. She could totally do Joni’s current singing voice. But the younger Joni will be so tricky! I think Anya Taylor-Joy already LOOKS a lot like a young Joni. But does Anya sound like her? Especially compared to Amanda Seyfried, who has been publicly auditioning for this role for a long time? I’m including Amanda’s appearance on the Tonight Show earlier this year, where she played the dulcimer and beautifully covered Joni’s “California.”
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- JONI MITCHELL LF,Image: 550982274, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: LONDON FEATURES/Avalon
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- Screenshot of Grammy Awards 2022 on social media, April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, US. Joni Mitchell winning 2022 MusiCares Person Of The Year Award.,Image: 680054476, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE for EDITORIAL USE ONLY! * NB: Fees charged by Avalon are for Avalon’s services only, and do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright or License in the material. Avalon does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright or License in the attached material. By publishing this material you (the user) expressly agree to indemnify and to hold Avalon and its directors, shareholders and employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), or any causes of action or allegation against Avalon arising out of or connected in any way with publication of the material. * Handling Fee Only ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: B4859/Avalon
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- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 24: Meryl Streep wearing Prada arrives at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 850577113, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Meryl Streep, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- Anya Taylor-Joy attends the “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (Furiosa: Une Saga Mad Max) Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 15, 2024 in Cannes, France.,Image: 873304785, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Olivier Huitel / Avalon
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- BEVERLY HILLS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JANUARY 05: Anya Taylor-Joy wearing archive Dior, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Tiffany and Co. jewelry arrives at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2025 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 952077443, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Anya Taylor-Joy, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- Meryl Streep at the opening ceremony and premiere of Le Deuxieme Acte The Second Act at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, 14 May 2024. Provence-Alpes-Cote d Azur Berl Deutschland *** Meryl Streep AT The Opening Ceremony and Premiere of Le deuxieme Acte The Second ACT AT The 77th Cannes Film Festival in The Palais of Festivals in Cannes, France, 14 May 2024 Provence Alpes Cote D Azur Berl Germany,Image: 966633454, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Avalon
The magic of Joni is her voice. It’s inimitable. Just use her recordings. I don’t want to endure the inevitable Oscar campaign centered on “but she did her own singing!” It’s played out. Biopics for Oscars are played out in general.
I honestly don’t know how they’re gonna make this and avoid Joni’s deeply problematic racist history with blackface, doing her black man ‘alter ego’ which even in the late 70s/early 80s was considered waaaay out of line. And SHE STILL DEFENDS IT. She’s always defended it. And Joni’s treatment of her estranged daughter.
Joni is crazy talented, love so much of her catalog, but she is a racist and not a good person.
Nobody could emulate Joni’s singing or playing. I’m not looking forward to this biopic.
Neither of these names excite me. I don’t consider Meryl a great singer/vocalist. (Mamma Mia was highly autotuned). Anya can actually sing (Last Night in Soho). Neither one though can replicate Joni’s distinct voice and they shouldn’t try. I’d be fine with them lip syncing this one.
No, Streep definitely can’t sing this role. She isn’t a very strong singer at all. I haven’t heard Anya sing but I’ll take your word for it. I was hoping for Seyfried. She can actually play the dulcimer!
They’d better cover her doing blackface and purporting to be a black man and speaking about her blackness and writing from a black perspective. I only learned of that when my biracial husband brought it up. I was floored and disgusted. So weird and messed up. Don’t give her a pass on that bullshit.
Their voices can be blended with Joni’s, like in the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic. Anya can sing well and I believe she’s played guitar for several years now. She’s also mentioned 60-70s music often in her interviews and her husband is a musician, so this casting makes sense to me. If all goes well, she could net herself an Oscar here.