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.
Back in April, Never Tear Us Apart cast the lead and most important role for the series, choosing Australian Luke Arnold for the coveted role of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence.
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 this month with a vast array of talented actors who have been cast to play the rest of the band.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with the cast and I’m amazed – at times I actually thought Michael was there.”Joining Arnold is former Packed To The Rafters star Hugh Sheridan who will play bassist Garry Gary Beers, NIDA graduate Nicholas Masters has won the role of Tim Farriss, with Offspring newcomer Ido Drent as drummer Jon and Andy Ryan as keyboardist and songwriter Andrew.
Alex Williams, who played the lead role in Underground: The Julian Assange Story, has signed on to play multi-instrumentalist Kirk Pengilly. Love My Way actor Damon Herriman will play the band’s manager Chris Murphy, who in real life is also serving as co-executive producer on the two-part series.
Tim Farriss is also consulting on set to the actors, and told News Limited that it was emotional to see their own life replicated for television and to see frontman Michael Hutchesen brought back to life through Arnold.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with the cast and I’m amazed – at times I actually thought Michael was there,” the guitarist said. “It has been all forms of emotion for me (but) I’m very excited.”
The roles of Paula Yates, Bono, and Hutchence squeeze Kylie Minogue are still yet to be cast, but production has already begun on the series which will air on Seven later this year.
The two-parter will reveal many of the untold stories of the Australian band who became one of the world’s biggest rock acts, including Hutchence’s spiral into depression after a motorbike accident in Thailand robbed him of his sense of taste and smell.
