For a while it looked like Freddy Rodriguez was going to be a star. He earned praise for his supporting role on the hit HBO show Six Feet Under and seemed to get his big break when director Robert Rodriguez cast him as the lead in Planet Terror, the filmmaker's half of the double-feature Grindhouse. Much to everyone's disappointment, however, Grindhouse wound up being a flop, opening at number four at the box office and pulling in only $11.6 million (it wound up only making $25 million of its $67 million budget back in its full run). As could be expected, the flop didn't do much for Rodriguez's career, who has been doing mostly TV since. Now, though, he is getting his chance to shine again with a starring role.
Deadline has learned that Rodriguez has landed one of the lead roles in the upcoming indie drama CBGB. The film, which is being directed by Randall Miller, centers on Hily Kristal and the creation of the infamous rock club that spawned some of the biggest names in punk music history. The site says that Rodriguez will be playing a character named Idaho, who is a druggie that hangs around the club, but it doesn't say how he will fit into the larger plot. Ryan Hurst, who is best known for his work on the FX series Sons of Anarchy, has also been added to the project and will play a biker named Mad Mountain who serves as protection for the club owner.
Alan Rickman will be playing the role of Kristal while other castmembers include Malin Akerman (as Debbie Harry), Ashley Green (as Kristal's daughter), Justin Bartha (as Dead Boys' Stiv Bators), Johnny Galecki (as manager Terry Ork), Taylor Hawkins (as Iggy Pop), and Rupert Grint (as Dead Boys' Cheetah Chrome). The film is in production and will be splitting time between filming in Georgia and New York.
I've always enjoyed Rodriguez's work and it's great to see him get a big role again. Hopefully Miller's movie will take-off and bring Rodriguez the success he deserves.
