Roger Daltrey produces film about The Who drummer

Actor Mike Myers has signed on to portray the Who's late drummer Keith Moon in a film produced by the group's frontman Roger Daltrey. Myers' participation is the first solid casting choice for the project, which has been in development for over ten years. Back in 2002 Daltrey told Britain's Sun that Myers was his first choice to portray Moon saying that, quote, "I can really see him as Keith. He's amazing when you meet him, so clever. Mike is a genius." Moon who was one of the most original and inspired musicians of his generation, died on September 7th, 1978, of an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

Daltrey has gone on record throughout the years that he'd like to portray himself in the movie. Other casting rumors have Nicholas Cage portraying Who guitarist-songwriter Pete Townshend. No word on any other casting decisions or when shooting is set to begin.

Roger Daltrey told us he feels that Moon's life was nothing short of cinematic:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "I think there's a great film to be made out of the life of Keith Moon. There was... He was an incredibly complicated character. I think he was definitely a frustrated genius. I want to show people everything they didn't know about Keith. It's not a band story at all - it's about a drummer on his days off."

Apart from his acrobatic drumming, Moon has gone on to be remembered as one of Britain's quickest wits and characters -- often adapting new and off-beat personas for days on end.

Moon died after attending a preview of the movie The Buddy Holly Story thrown by Paul and Linda McCartney, on what would have been Buddy Holly's 38th birthday. At the party after the screening he was photographed talking with McCartney and his future Who replacement Kenney Jones.

Moon died in the same London apartment where "Mama" Cass Elliott had died four years earlier.

Robert DeNiro's production company has had a Moon project in development as well. They ran into a snag several years ago when Pete Townshend wouldn't grant them permission to use any Who songs in their feature.