André Benjamin (better known to us as Outkast’s André 3000) is having a busy 2014—he and Outkast comrade Big Boi reunited for a slew of tour dates, playing festivals around the world, and now Benjamin’s returning to the big screen as Jimi Hendrix in the new biopic Jimi: All Is by My Side.
The trailer, which was released last week, features Benjamin in the title role, but is lacking one noticeable element: any of Hendrix’s music. Writer and director John Ridley (who won an Oscar this year for his work on 12 Years a Slave) was faced with a unique challenge after the filmmakers were unable to secure the rights to use Hendrix’s songs, according to the Washington Post. In the face of the legal obstacle, Ridley decided to focus the film on the musician’s life and early career in Swinging ’60s London, before he became an international star.
From the looks of the trailer, the multitalented Benjamin already seems to have mastered the soft-spoken demeanor and showmanship of Hendrix. No doubt he channeled some of his own onstage charisma to portray a man famous for setting his guitar aflame, literally and metaphorically.
Benjamin has played parts in films like Outkast’s Idlewild and comedies like Semi-Pro, but has never landed a starring role, so we can’t wait to see what he does with his turn as the legendary guitar god.
Jimi: All Is by My Side is in theaters September 26.
