Disney has set Norbit and Shaggy Dog director Brian Robbins to direct Jailhouse Rock a film described by the trade as being based on the true story of an “American Idol”-like singing contest held in an Arizona jail.
Apparently the story surfaced in an L.A. Weekly article by Joshuah Bearman (wonders if he gets an cash) and it revolves around Bret Kaiser, a heavy-metal musician-turned-detention officer at Arizona’s Tent City, the fourth-largest jail in the country. Kaiser, whose life rights are part of the package, rallied thousands of inmates to participate in the “Inmate Idle Singing Con-Test.” Cell block hostilities were curtailed as inmates rallied around the contestants. Alice Cooper was a guest judge for the finals.
“I don’t see this as a prison movie as much as about the healing power of music,” Robbins told Daily Variety. “Like ‘Coach Carter,’ which came from a newspaper article we read, there’s nothing better than real-life drama.”
If they go for this as an absolute real drama it might work, but if they add in sap and way too many “make you more comfortable” style jokes then you can go ahead and toss this one in the scrap heap already.
On a side note, how is Robbins still getting jobs after The Shaggy Dog and Norbit? Varsity Blues was a fluke and 8 years ago, let’s forget about this guy.
