Shortly after it was revealed that they would be pulling the plug on their status as a ‘live touring unit’ in November last year, INXS fans were gifted with the news that the life of former frontman Michael Hutchence would be adapted for the screen, in three separate adaptations covering aspect of the legendary singer’s life with the band.
First, there was the silver screen biopic Two Worlds Colliding, based on the book Just A Man, penned by Michael Hutchence’s sister Tina and late mother Patricia Glossop, and Michael, directed by Dogs In Space filmmaker Richard Lowenstein.
Then came the news of a new two-part mini-series entitled Never Tear Us Apart: The INXS Story, chronicling the rock n roll story of one of Australia’s biggest and most successful music exports of all time, complete with the tragic trajectory of their former frontman.
The challenge for both productions of course, was in finding the perfect talent to fill the sizeable shoes of the iconic frontman (something the real-life band have arguably struggled with their entire career).
Now the two-part mini-series has found its leading man, with Adelaide Now reporting that Australian actor Luke Arnold has landed the coveted role of Michael Hutchence in the forthcoming series, produced by Shine Australia and set to screen on Seven later this year.
The production team had been scouting local bands in their search for the crucial lead role, and at one point American actor James Franco came to the fore, but Arnold, a WAAPA graduate, has secured the role and will begin work as the production begins shooting within the next two months. Shine Australia and Seven’s Never Tear Us Apart: The INXS Story also enjoys the status of being the only adaptation that has INXS’s blessing…
Besides possessing the necessary look of the INXS frontman, Luke Arnold also has a wealth of TV experience, first cutting his teeth with parts in Australian shows like Rush, McLeod’s Daughters, and Steven Spielberg’s The Pacific, and the role of Michael Hutchence will be the latest addition to his talent CV alongside roles in feature films The Tunnel, Event Zero, and Dealing With Destiny.
Despite his death more than 15 years ago, Michael Hutchence’s legendary status remains at an all-time high, especially given a recent poll conducted by News Ltd in which the singer ranked #4 in a list of the Greatest Aussie Singers of all-time, as peer-voted by an impressive selection of Aussie singers.
Those worried the mini-series is merely cashing in on Hutchence deathless popularity can take heart in the fact that Shine Australia and Seven’s Never Tear Us Apart: The INXS Story is the only adaptation that has INXS’s official blessing, meaning the band members have sanctioned their extensive back catalogue for the project and are also helping out with the production.
“We have been sitting on one of the greatest rock’n’roll stories ever for so long now,” said INXS manager Chris Murphy last December, emphasising that the the band were keen to tell their side of the story in the new series. Including some of the more unknown or obscure tales during the band’s international rised to fame; like Mick Jagger sneaking into the band’s first ever sold-out gig at the Royal Albert Hall in London in the late 80s for one, according to the band’s manager, Chris Murphy.
Likewise, Guitarist Tim Farriss says Never Tear Us Apart is “our chance to get it right, to get everything off our chest,” while emphasising that there would be some juicier details in the series as well. “There is still stuff I don’t know which is going to come out in this mini-series; I think it will be hard to stay away from the set.”
Shine Australia’s Mark Fennessy, who was on tour with the band during their 80s zenith for the Kick and X-era as they moved from Australian rock stars to global concern, says the series will also expose the darker side of Hutchence after he suffered head injuries from a motorcycle accident in the early 1990s. “We have been sitting on one of the greatest rock’n’roll stories ever for so long now” – Chris Murphy, INXS Manager
“I don’t know how many people know about his motorbike accident in Thailand,” reveals Fennessy; “a lot of people thought it was in Copenhagen. He got king hit by a taxi driver, his brain shifted and he lost his sense of smell and taste.”
“He became quite dark, cynical, aggressive and depressed, and while he was on Prozac, that was on top of everything else he was taking,” continues the producer. “It was a frustrating time for him and the band.”
It’s just one of many gory band details that the mini-series will hopefully cover, with INXS manager Chris Murphy saying that actors were being sought to play the roles of U2 mouthpiece Bono, and former Hutchence flames Paula Yates and Kylie Minogue.
The actress cast as the latter, pint-sized poppette will also have to contend with a mile-high scene involving a first-class flight, a toilet cubicle, and Bob Hawke as a witness.
Never Tear Us Apart: The INXS Story is the third feature in recent months to surface based on the band and their frontman, but looks set to be the first to be viewed by the public.
The other two movie features focussing on Michael Hutchence, are the aforementioned Two Worlds Colliding, a biopic based on the biography written by the frontman’s sister and late mother, and Michael.
Screen Australia have provided funding for the latter feature to writer/director Richard Lowenstein, who actually has first-hand experience with the band and Hutchence, having directed the cult film Dogs In Space as well as several of the band’s videos from their 80s heyday, including ‘Need You Tonight’ and “Never Tear US Apart.
