Joe Manganiello Making Movie About The Smiths

When hearing the name Joe Manganiello, we might think tend to think of him as a werewolf from his stint on TV’s ‘True Blood,’ or as a male stripper from the ‘Magic Mike’ movies.

But a fan of The Smiths?

It would certainly seem Manganiello is a fan of the 1980s Manchester band, as he is set to produce and star in ‘Shoplifters of the World,’ Pitchfork reports.

Inspired by story long since debunked as an urban legend, the film will centre on a fanatical Smiths fan in Denver, Colorado who - on the day in 1987 that the band announced they were breaking up - breaks into a radio station at gunpoint and holds the DJs hostage, demanding only Smiths songs be played.

If this sounds at all reminiscent of the 1994 comedy ‘Airheads’ (with Brendan Fraser, Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi), that’s no coincidence, as the story reportedly inspired that film.

As well as producing, Manganiello is also reported to star as a DJ. The writer and director is Stephen Kijack, who has previously made a number of music documentaries including ‘Scott Walker: 30th Century Man,’ ‘Stones in Exile’ and ‘Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of,’ as well as a number of narrative features.

Former Smiths frontman Morrissey has reportedly given his blessing to the film and granted permission for The Smiths’ music to be used.

The film has been in the works for several years: Deadline initially reported that it was set to go into production in summer 2012, at which point the cast was set to include Thomas Sangster and Will Poulter.

This makes it two Smiths-related films in the works, as a young Morrissey biopic, ‘Steven,’ is also in the works, starring Jack Lowden in the lead.

Picture Credit: WENN, Rough Trade/Warner Bros

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