James Dean Biopic In The Works Based On Gay College Romance Memoir

The moniker of 'icon' is bandied about pretty readily in Hollywood these days, but when it comes to James Dean, the star of Giant, East Of Eden, and Rebel Without A Cause who tragically died at just 24 years of age in 1955, it's one that's well deserved. And as our cultural fascination with the actor continues to endure, so too do new works based on his life. Now, per THR's reporting, it looks like the latest is set to be Surviving James Dean, a movie from writer-director Guy Guido based on William Bast's eponymous 2006 memoir.

Bast's second book about Dean having already been his close friend's first biographer way back in 1956, Surviving James Dean offers a more personal insight into the duo's relationship. Bast's book chronicles the two men's evolving bond as they went from UCLA roommates to close friends to lovers, their romantic ties kept quiet at the time so as not to jeopardise Dean's career, and Bast's hopes of one day living with the rising star dashed by the horrific car accident that ended Dean's life. Guido's movie is set to follow Bast and Dean's relationship from that first day at UCLA all the way through to that fateful day on 30 September, 1955.

"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,” said Guido in comments shared with THR. “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.” And as far as casting Dean goes, an actor who has in the past been played by the likes of Dane DeHaan, James Franco, and Casper Van Dien, for Guido it's of the upmost importance. “I am obsessed with getting the look right when it comes to casting and directing a film about a famous person,” the filmmaker explains. “I want people to feel as if they are watching the real James Dean on the screen.”

With this week's announcement that Mike Faist is set to play Cal Trask, the role James Dean made famous, in Zoe Kazan's upcoming East Of Eden, we already have one suggestion for a candidate to play the legendary actor. But with Guido's film still yet to secure financing as of yet, it may be some time until this one reaches our screens. We'll bring you more as soon as we get it though.