Michelle Williams to star as Janis Joplin in new biopic

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12 (UPI) — Michelle Williams is set to star in Sean Durkin’s upcoming Janis Joplin biopic as the 1960s rock-and-roll icon.

Durkin, who directed Martha Marcy May Marlene, has teamed up with producer Peter Newman for the film, which is based on the book Love, Janis, written by Joplin’s sister, Laura.

Newman owns the rights to a large piece of Joplin’s catalog and will use her music, along with the book and Joplin’s written materials to create the film which will focus on the final six months of the singer’s life.

Joplin died in 1970 at the age of 27 from a heroin overdose.