A film based on the life of Jimi Hendrix is something that has been in the works for years, but now the film is coming closer to becoming a reality. The Irish Film and Television Network reports that the film, which is set to be filmed in Ireland during a six-week period, now has both a title and a lead actor: Andre Benjamin, aka Andre 3000, has been chosen to play Hendrix in the upcoming film, titled All Is By My Side. 

Advance reports indicate that the film will take place in 1966 into 1967 and that it will focus on the early years of Hendrix’s recording career, starting with Keith Richards’ girlfriend, Linda Keith, befriending him in New York City and introducing him to his manager Chas Chandler. The film would also include moments from the recording of Hendrix’s first album, Are You Experienced?

This looks to be the most challenging acting challenge yet for Benjamin, who has put his music career with OutKast on hold to pursue work in film and television. No release date has been set for the film.

UPDATE: A report in The Wall Street Journal states that Hendrix’s estate has not signed off on a biopic. Experience Hendrix LLC, the company that manages the guitarist’s publishing and licensing deals, issued a statement saying that the company is not on board with the film and that “no such film, were it to include original music or copyrights created by Jimi Hendrix, can be undertaken without [our] full participation.”

The statement went on to make clear that the company would approve of a biopic based on Hendrix’s life, but only if they were involved “from its inception.”

This statement could have possibly put the kibosh on the proposed film for now: the film is still technically allowed to continue production, but it wouldn’t have any of Hendrix’s music, which kind of defeats the purpose of the film. Then again, the Bob Marley documentary that was in production limbo for years came out last month, so stranger things have certainly happened.