"We'll honour Mapplethorpe on the 25th year of his death by bringing him to life on screen," director Ondi Timoner said. "After several years of developing this script and searching across the globe for the perfect talent to embody the rich and layered roles of visionary artists Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith, I am ecstatic to have found Matt Smith and Zosia Mamet.

 

"They will bring indelible passion, raw humanity, and authenticity to this timeless, inspiring story."

 

Mapplethorpe covered many topics in his photographic series, but seemed especially drawn to sexuality and the underground S&M scene.

 

In 1988 he explained that he wasn't trying to be shocking: "I don't like that particular word 'shocking.' I'm looking for the unexpected. I'm looking for things I've never seen before … I was in a position to take those pictures. I felt an obligation to do them."

 

He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986 and died 3 years later. 

 

Done well, this could be a truly amazing film about the life of a one of the greatest photographers of the last billion years!

 

Matt Smith to play photographer Mapplethorpe [BBC News]