Robby Krieger, the Doors’ guitarist, has come on board “Poet” as an executive producer who will work on the film’s soundtrack with Manzarek’s son Pablo and noted composer William Ross.
He’s also hopeful that Harrison Ford can be persuaded to portray Manzarek. During the band’s heyday in the late 1960s, Ford worked with the band as a stagehand and second camera assistant.
“I admit that it’s a longshot,” Krieger said of the potential casting of Ford. “I want to help this movie get made as much as possible.”
Alcon Entertainment went public last week with its desire for Ford to reprise his role as Rick Deckard in a reboot of the iconic sci-fi film “Blade Runner.” Reps for Ford have not responded to inquiries.
“The Poet in Exile” is an exploration of the urban legend that Morrison is still alive. Manzarek set up the project in 2011 with Tim Sullivan, who’s writing, directing and producing through his New Rebellion Entertainment banner.
Manzarek, Morrison, Krieger and John Densmore formed the Doors in 1965. Manzarek’s novel, published in 2002, explores the notion that Morrison staged his death in 1971 and later contacted Manzarek from his hiding place in the Seychelles Islands to embark on one final journey of “rock ‘n’ roll rebellion.”
Sullivan and his sister Liz Sullivan have been polishing the script and recently brought on Ross and Pablo Manzarek as an executive producer. Ross, who composed the score for Sullivan’s supernatural thriller “Driftwood,” has served as orchestra conductor for three of the last four Academy Awards ceremonies.
Manzarek left behind a plethora of unreleased recordings that will be worked into the film’s soundtrack.
The band’s history was the subject of Oliver Stone’s 1991 feature “The Doors,” along with documentaries such as 2010′s “When You’re Strange,” narrated by Johnny Depp. “The Poet in Exile” is the first Doors film project originated by a member of the band.
Krieger has remained active as a guitarist and toured extensively with Manzarek as Manzarek/Krieger. “I’ve done a lot of charity gigs, and I’m going next month to the Bonnaroo festival,” he added.