
“It's going to happen,” says Journey frontman Arnel Pineda regarding his upcoming biopic that will be helmed by Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu.
In an exclusive interview for Rolling Stone magazine, the 53-year-old musician says that the retelling of his life will push through and that the acclaimed director might visit the Philippines to audition actors that will take part in the film.
He told writer Andy Greene, “It's going to happen. I think they're gonna start.
“Some people from Warner will start coming here. I think maybe with ['Crazy Rich Asians' director] Jon Chu and ['Joker' and 'The Fighter' screenwriter] Scott Silver. They might come here to audition actors and actresses that will take part in my biopic.”
Furthermore, Arnel said that once the team lands in the Philippines, he will be taking them on a tour of his hometown.
“I want to show them where I grew up, where I was born, where everything happened before this whole magical thing.”
He added, “I've spoken many times with Scott Silver. What's interesting about my story is that I've survived two coup attempts here in the Philippines before I went to Hong Kong for ten years.
“I don't know if he plans to tell what happened to me in Hong Kong, but I had ten years there. He might focus on my love story with my wife now.”
Arnel shared that he also gave inputs about how he wants the film to end: A shot of himself in Chile, where he performed as Journey's frontman in February 2008.
He said, “I've been implying it [the idea] to him that we should end everything in Chile.
“I remember when my wife decided to join me on tour in 2011. We were playing to a 30,000 crowd that night. I was telling my wife, 'Remember Hard Rock Cafe when there were only three tables? Now it's 30,000 people.'
“It was just unbelievable. It doesn't get old to me. It's still so surreal and bizarre.”
In 2018, it was first revealed that Arnel's life would be turned into a movie, as confirmed by the entertainment website Deadline.com.
Director Jon Chu said in the interview, “This story, in particular, has been on my mind since I first read about it years ago. A true fairy tale and the triumph of the human spirit. An unlikely hero, an undeniable talent, the power of music, and a worldwide stage (literally) have all the ingredients I love about movies.
“Plus, I have been a fan of Journey's music since I can remember. I am excited to be bringing the audience along on this incredible story with my partners at Warner Bros, who has been a leading champion of diverse voice in front and behind the camera.”
Are you looking forward to seeing Arnel's life on the big screen soon? Stay tuned for updates only here at GMANetwork.com.