‘Looking’ director Andrew Haigh to direct Alexander McQueen biopic
By Ben Kelly
Director Andrew Haigh has signed on to direct a biopic based on the life of the late fashion icon Alexander McQueen.
The biopic will tell the story of McQueen, who grew up in London’s East End, and honed his skills on Savile Row, where he counted Prince Charles among his clients, before hitting it big in the fashion world. He founded his own eponymous label in 1992 and was appointed chief designer at Givency in 1996. Widely regarded as a fashion visionary, he tragically took his own life in 2010.
According to Deadline, Andrew Haigh’s film is set to be produced by Damian Jones and Pathe, and will be based on Andrew Wilson’s McQueen biography Blood Beneath The Skin, which was released in February 2015.
Pathe has, in recent years produced hit dramas like Pride and Suffragette, with Damian Jones having produced The Lady In The Van, and the forthcoming Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.
Andrew Haigh burst on to the film scene with the critically acclaimed Weekend in 2011, and then took a central role in producing the HBO drama Looking in 2014. Cancelled after two seasons, a movie length finale is scheduled to go out at some point this year.
Speaking to Attitude in 2015, Haigh offered his explanation for why the show failed. “A lot of people seemed to talk about it without actually watching it,” he commented.
“I do think it is rooted in a fear where we want representation in the world, but only of the best of us,” he added. “Now, it is of my feeling that if we want true acceptance, then we should be accepted fully, as shitty people, who have emotional baggage and who do find it hard to be gay. I have no problem with those characters being on screen.”
His current film 45 Years – which follows an older married couple across one week in which a secret from their past is unearthed – has been well received across film festivals and awards ceremonies. British actress Charlotte Rampling is currently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film.
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Andrew Haigh on Looking: ‘People judged it after watching five minutes’