Emile Hirsch cast in John Belushi biopic

Emile Hirsch has been cast as the lead in the John Belushi biopic.

The 28-year-old actress will front the film about the late comedian, which follows his career as one of the original cast members of entertainment show ‘Saturday Night Live’ and his ultimately fatal battle with drug abuse, according to Variety.

It is believed that writer and director Steve Conrad, who took over from ‘The Hangover’ herlmer Todd Phillips, is considering TV actor Nelson Franklin for the part of Belushi’s friend and collaborator Dan Ackroyd.

The film is being produced by Ackroyd himself, who memorably starred opposite Belushi in ‘The Blues Brothers’ and ‘1941’, as well as working with him on ‘Saturday Night Live’, while Belushi’s widow Judy Belushi Pisano is set to co-produce.

This isn’t the first time the comedian – who passed away age 33 from a drug overdose at the Chateau Marmont in 1982 – has had his story brought to life on the big screen.

A 1989 adaptation of Bob Woodward’s book ‘Wired’ saw Michael Chiklis portray Belushi, but the movie was reportedly shunned by the star’s friends and family.